The Makings of a Master:
Kentucky Folk Art Apprenticeships
Kentucky is filled with folk traditions, old and new, from baskets and banjos to dancing and drumming. Learn about master folk artists, their apprentices and the culture they share through art, video interviews, live concerts and demonstrations. This exhibit celebrates 20 years of apprenticeships funded and documented by the Kentucky Arts Council.
About the Exhibit
The Makings of a Master: Kentucky
Folk Art Apprenticeships is a traveling exhibit that explores relationships between master folk artists
and their apprentices. Every day, folk communities across Kentucky practice living traditions that
are vitally important to their cultural identity. Whether they are musicians, dancers, storytellers
or craft artists, all communities have their masters — those who are considered the most excellent
representatives of their folk art.
Master folk artists embody the aesthetics and values of their cultural group, whether it is a family,
regional, ethnic, occupational, or recreational group. During an apprenticeship, a master teaches skills,
values and stories to an apprentice from their community. The apprentice works toward mastery through active
learning and immersion in the culture. The result is a sharing of knowledge which strengthens the traditional
art form, helping it to continue and take on new life.
This exhibit is based on field research and interviews from over 20 years of recipients of the Kentucky
Arts Council Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant, collected by the arts council and archived
by the Kentucky Folklife Program. It includes videos and interpretive panels with photos
and quotes from the masters and apprentices. It has appeared in museums, libraries, galleries and special
events across Kentucky.
Click these links to learn more about:
For more information about the exhibit, or to recommend a host site, contact
Mark Brown at mark.brown@ky.gov or
502-892-3115.
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