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Guidelines and Instructions

Folk and Traditional Arts
Apprenticeship Grant Program

Application Deadline: March 15, 2010

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant Program is to honor traditional artists and encourage the continuation of Kentucky's living traditional arts by funding master artists to teach their skills, practices and culture to less experienced artists within their communities.

Goals

• To provide an opportunity for the apprentice to advance to a higher level his or her understanding and skills of the folk art form
  
  
• To support the recognition and continuation of these traditions within the master artist's community

Performance Expectations

Your application will be reviewed using the following performance expectations:

1. Excellence of the Master Artist (30%)

• Master artist practices a traditional art form learned in his or her community.
• Master artist’s proficiency or excellence in the art form is important to the community.
• Master artist understands apprentice’s potential, and demonstrates an effective teaching plan.

2. Excellence of the Apprentice (30%)

• Apprentice has developed skills in the traditional art form, and learned these in his or her community.
• Apprentice demonstrates potential to become a master of the art form and represent the tradition.
• Apprentice will share and teach the traditional art form within the community and beyond.

3. Apprenticeship Working Plan (40%)

• Working plan is effective, with appropriate schedule and meeting spaces.
• Working plan addresses history, techniques and context of the art form.
• Master artist and apprentice will document and share the apprenticeship experience within the community and beyond.

Panelist Assessment Sheet  

Program Description

The Kentucky Arts Council defines folk arts as artistic expression that is shared informally within folk groups. Folk groups include family, regional, ethnic, occupational, and recreational groups. The Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant Program supports master and apprentice folk artists working and studying together. Prospective master artists and apprentices must apply as partners. Apprenticeship grants fund the master artist's stipend, as well as travel expenses and supplies. Apprenticeships last up to one year, and all activities and expenses must occur between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011.

Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants are a part of the Kentucky Folklife Program, an interagency program of the Kentucky Arts Council and the Kentucky Historical Society. The purpose of the Kentucky Folklife Program is to honor, strengthen and make visible the stylistic and cultural variety of folk and traditional arts in the Commonwealth. The folk and traditional arts have developed through time within the many groups in Kentucky that share the same ethnic heritage, language, occupation, religion or geographic area. The traditional artistic activities of such groups are often called folk or traditional arts, and they serve to identify the groups that practice them. Through the Kentucky Folklife Program, the Kentucky Arts Council encourages community-based arts that endure over time, carry a sense of community aesthetics, and demonstrate the highest degree of artistic excellence.

Kentucky Arts Council Values

The mission of the Kentucky Arts Council is to create opportunities for the people of Kentucky to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Working in partnership with organizations and individuals to deliver arts programs and services throughout the state, we ask that applicants and partners keep the following guiding values in mind when working with the Kentucky Arts Council:

Artists' Compensation

The Kentucky Arts Council believes that the time and work of artists have real value, for which artists should be fairly compensated. In dealing with artists' creative services and works, the arts council wants to ensure that:

• Artists are fully engaged in plans for use of their work.
  
  
• It is not standard practice to solicit gratis creative services and works, demonstrations or performances.
  
  
• All parties mutually agree upon equitable compensation for services, works or performances.

Diversity

The Kentucky Arts Council believes that arts programs and services should be accessible to all people of the Commonwealth. The arts council recognizes that communities are not limited to geographic boundaries and may be defined by common factors such as occupation, recreation, religion, ethnicity, belief, etc., that are shared by a group of people. The members of these groups share a common culture and a sense of aesthetics. These unique and diverse art forms bring people together and can promote positive intercultural relations among the state's various communities, including:

• Persons of all ages
• Gay, lesbian and transgender communities
• Persons of all ethnic and racial groups
• Persons with disabilities
• Geographically or economically isolated communities
• Disadvantaged and at-risk persons
• Institutionalized persons

Preservation of Cultural Resources

The Kentucky Arts Council believes that the arts and cultural resources of Kentucky are key to understanding our heritage, and that honoring the past will help build our future. Recognizing that knowledge of our history will help build our future, we support identifying, documenting, conserving and protecting the cultural resources of the state including:

• Artistic works
• Cultural traditions
• Historic sites
• Historic structures

Advocacy

The Kentucky Arts Council believes it is important for individuals and organizations to advocate for the arts and promote how they enhance our communities and our lives. We encourage our constituents to influence public policy by:

• Acknowledging public funding sources
  
  
• Becoming involved in the public life of the community
  
  
• Getting to know legislators and local officials and staying informed about issues
  
  
• Involving public officials in arts activities or the activities of arts organizations
  
  
• Asking legislators and local officials to vote for positions supporting the arts
  
  
• Discussing the value of the arts with peers

Program Support

The KAC staff will offer the following support to ensure that the program standards and goals are met:

• Assistance from Kentucky Arts Council program directors in selecting appropriate program categories and in answering questions about programs
  
  
• Review of "in-process" status applications prior to final submission
  
  
• Consultation regarding applicant eligibility, competitiveness for funding, budget issues, etc.
  
  
• Referrals to potential partners for programs
  
  
• Advice in locating appropriate technical assistance to evaluate and increase applicants' accessibility and arts participation

Who May Apply

Individual master artists and apprentices must apply together. Both the master artist and apprentice must be Kentucky residents. Both must have strong connections to Kentucky’s living, traditional arts.

For proof of residency, applicants must submit a copy of two of the following at the time of application:

• Kentucky driver’s license, which includes the date issued and expiration date
• State of Kentucky identification card, which includes the date issued and expiration date
• Kentucky voter registration verification downloaded from the State Board of Elections’ Voter Information Center Web site at https://cdcbp.ky.gov/VICWeb/VIC
• Kentucky state income tax forms for the most recent year

Grant Amounts and Matching Requirements

The maximum request for a Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant is $3,000. There is no matching-funds requirement for the apprenticeship grant category.

Restrictions

Kentucky Arts Council funds may not be used for the following purposes:

• Purchase of equipment, property, library holdings or acquisitions
• Capital improvements, facility construction, structural renovations and restorations
• Publications or recordings for commercial purposes
• Scholarships or other activities related to academic credit or degrees
• Activities intended primarily for fundraising
• Food, beverages or other refreshments
• Requests designed to reduce or eliminate existing deficits
• Interest on loans, fines, penalties and/or litigation costs
• Expenses incurred before the starting date of the period covered in the grant request
• Investments of any kind
• Performances not available to the general public
• Programs that have sectarian purposes
• Indirect costs
• The application of new artistic work to historic buildings or structures unless approved by the state historic preservation office as being in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Contact the Kentucky Heritage Council at (502) 564-7005 or http://heritage.ky.gov

No Kentucky Arts Council funds may be used to match another grant from the Kentucky Arts Council. In addition, the same matching funds may not be used for more than one Kentucky Arts Council grant. In some cases, Kentucky Arts Council grants may be used to match National Endowment for the Arts or other federal grants; call staff for clarification before committing funds for such purposes. The Kentucky Arts Council also reserves the right to make special stipulations on how specific grants funds may be spent.

How to Apply

• Read the Materials: Thoroughly read the guidelines, instructions and application for this program before applying.
  
  
• Submit Application: Applicants must complete and submit the application form, narrative, and supporting materials by the deadline (see below). Click here for the application form.

Program Timeline

Application deadline	March 15, 2010
Review of applications by panel	May, 2010
Review of recommended applications by KAC board	June, 2010
Applicant notification	As soon as possible following board approval of panel recommendations
Use of grant funds may begin	July 1, 2010
Site visit by Folklife Program staff	Near the midpoint of apprenticeship
Use of grant funds must conclude	June 30, 2011
Final Report due	July 30, 2011

Application Deadline

Applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2010, or hand-delivered to the Kentucky Arts Council office no later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on that date. Applications with deadlines falling on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal or state holidays will be accepted on the next business day if: 1) they are officially postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service, 2) they are delivered by a shipping service (e.g., UPS, Federal Express, etc.) with a paid receipt on or before that date, or 3) they are hand-delivered by 4:30 p.m. If the KAC does not receive the application with attachments by the due date via one of the three delivery options above, your application will be considered ineligible. Packages dated with internal postage meters and applications sent by FAX will not be accepted.

Note: Due to new postal regulations, all packages over 16 ounces must be given directly to a postal clerk at a post office, and not dropped in a postal box.

Instructions

General Format Requirements

Please note: Format requirements enhance the readability of your application for the panelists. Failing to follow these requirements may result in your application being returned, or portions of your application being unreadable due to hole-punching, copying, etc.

• All applications must be prepared on a computer and/or typed. No handwritten applications will be accepted.
  
  
• If you have Internet access and the latest version of Adobe Reader®, you can open the application on the Arts Council Web site located at artscouncil.ky.gov, and fill out and print the form using your computer. (Adobe Reader® can be updated or downloaded free by visiting their Web site at http://get.adobe.com/reader.)
  
  
• Use standard-size (8½” x 11”) white paper for all pages; single-sided copies only.
  
  
• Use minimum one-inch margins on top, bottom, right and left sides of narrative pages.
  
  
• Use minimum 11-point type. Standard fonts such as Times New Roman, Helvetica, Arial or Courier are recommended; decorative fonts will not be accepted.
  
  
• Number all pages and place the applicant’s name and the words "Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship" on the top right-hand corner of each page.
  
  
• Do not staple applications or enclose them in folders or binders of any kind; use paper clips only.

Section by Section Instructions

Applicant Info: Fill out this section accurately and completely.

Apprentice Info: Fill out this section accurately and completely.

Proposal Information:

• Project Title: Provide a brief title summarizing the activity (e.g., “White Oak Basket Apprenticeship”).
  
  
• Project Beginning & End Date: The project beginning date must be July 1, 2010 or later, and the end date must be no later than June 30, 2011. All apprenticeship activities must take place between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011.
  
  
• Amount Requested: The amount requested for apprenticeships is up to $3,000. The amount requested should be the same as the total expenses in your apprenticeship budget in the application.
  
  
• Grantee race/ethnicity: Choose the race code(s) that best represent your race or ethnicity. Select ALL that apply.
  
  
• Activity race/ethnicity: If the majority of the grant activities are intended to involve or act as a clear expression or representation of the cultural traditions of one particular group, or deliver services to a designated racial population, choose that group from the list. If the grant or activity is not designed to represent or reach any one particular group, choose "No Single Group".

Additional instructions for specific questions are included in the application form.

Supporting Materials

Work Samples (required)

The master artist and apprentice must send work samples with their application. Both applicants are required to send at least one work sample, and no more than three work samples each. The panel will rely primarily on the work samples to judge the quality of the applicants' work, so it is important to make careful choices on what to send. Work samples can include CDs, DVDs or digital images. Applicants are encouraged to call Mark Brown at 502-564-1792 (ext. 4491), or e-mail Mark.Brown@ky.gov for help in choosing work samples.

CDs and DVDs: These samples will be mailed to the KAC. Please label each DVD or CD with the name of the applicant and the title and running time of each piece. Appropriate tracks on CDs and DVDs should be clearly indicated. Label the recordings as follows: give the name of the production(s) or performance(s), date and location where performance(s) occurred, and names of key personnel.

Supplemental Materials (not required)

Applicants may also send other supporting materials, such as newspaper articles or reviews, artist promotional materials, letters of support, sample brochures, etc. Letters of support, reviews and other photocopied materials must be on standard-size (8 ½" x 11"), single-sided white paper only. Send three separate sets.

Panel Meeting

A panel of folklorists, arts professionals and other individuals with relevant experience will review all applications according to Performance Expectations. Please be aware that panelists may or may not live in Kentucky, and may be unfamiliar with the state's organizations, artists, and communities.

KAC Board Meeting

The panel's recommendations are forwarded to the Kentucky Arts Council's governing board for approval. All KAC board meetings are open to the public. The arts council board approves panel recommendations before notifications are made. Applicants are informed of the arts council board's decision by letter immediately following the board meeting.

Grant Agreements

Applicants that receive a favorable recommendation enter into an agreement with the State of Kentucky. Agreements cannot be altered without prior approval from the arts council's appropriate program manger. Grantees are required to promptly notify the Kentucky Arts Council in writing of any changes in their grant activity. If grantees do not notify the KAC about changes before they file a final report, future funding may be jeopardized. Grants are for the period specified in the approved application. Funds must be spent or committed for activities taking place within the period stated unless an extension has been approved in writing. Funds spent before the period starts are not eligible and must not be included in the budget.

Funds granted must be expended solely for the activities described in the approved application, unless specific approval has been received in writing. Any funds granted but not spent must be returned to the Kentucky Arts Council at the conclusion of the grant period.

Grant agreements must be signed and returned and funds dispersed by the KAC by June 30. Funds are not available after this time.

Final Reports

All KAC grantees must submit a Final Report within 30 days of completion of the grant period. Requests for extensions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be granted if a written request is submitted before the due date of the Final Report. The Final Report form can be accessed on the Kentucky Arts Council Web site at http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/apformsx.htm.

If a grantee fails to submit the required final report for any grant, the Kentucky Arts Council will accept no future applications until an acceptable final report is received.

Appeals

There are no appeals in this category.

For More Information

The Kentucky Arts Council welcomes all questions regarding this program. For more information on this program, please contact either:

Bob Gates Kentucky Folklife Program Director Tel: 502-564-1792, ext. 4481 Fax: 502-564-2839 E-mail: Bob.Gates@ky.gov

Mark Brown Kentucky Folklife Program Tel: 502-564-1792, ext. 4491 Fax: 502-564-2839 E-mail: Mark.Brown@ky.gov

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Kentucky Arts Council
21st Floor, Capital Plaza Tower
500 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40601-1987
Phone: 502-564-3757
Toll-free: 888-833-2787
FAX: 502-564-2839
Send comments or questions to: kyarts@ky.gov

Copyright 2010, Commonwealth of Kentucky. All rights reserved.
URL: http://artscouncil.ky.gov

Revised: February 05, 2010