MAAP Frequently Asked Questions
MAAP Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Who can be funded?
- Answer: Members of the master craft artists/apprentice team must be residents of Tennessee and must provide a copy of proof of residency with submitted applications.
- Question: How many pairs are awarded?
- Answer: Three (3) master craft artist/apprentice pairs will be chosen to participate in the program, with funding available for intensive, one-on-one training to qualified apprentices by recognized master craft artists.
- Question: What are the award amounts?
- Answer: Approved applications will receive a total of $4,000 to be divided as follows: The master craft artist is awarded an honorarium of $2,200 and the apprentice is awarded an honorarium of $1,800.
- Question: How long is the program and when does it start?
- Answer: Project partnership runs annually from December 01 through June 15 and includes a minimum of 80-120 hours of instruction.
- Question: When is the application deadline?
- Answer: The application deadline each year is October 31. All applications must be postmarked on or before October 31 to be considered. No hand-delivered, electronic or faxed copies of applications and/or support documents will be accepted.
- Question: I know a master/apprentice who I’d really like to work with. Will you pair me with him/her when I apply?
- Answer: We do not have the ability to pair artists with partners; however, a great way to find a potential partner is to look in our online Artist Member Gallery and contact an artist directly if you are interested in potentially working together. Note: No prior working relationship with your mentor/apprentice is necessary, but you and your partner must agree to work with one another and apply for the apprenticeship together.
- Question: Do the master and apprentice have to work in the same craft medium?
- Answer: No, applicants may work in different craft categories. For instance, an apprentice in fiber may choose to work with a master in paper, thereby allowing the apprentice to incorporate paper-making skills into his/her fiber artwork upon completion of the apprenticeship.
- Question: Do I have to be a Tennessee Craft member to apply?
- Answer: Applicants do not have to be Tennessee Craft members to be eligible to participate.
- Question: If I am selected to participate, what can I use the money for?
- Answer: In general, funding may be used for a broad range of purposes, as long as an artist can show how it relates to furthering his/her craft and the apprenticeship; however, funding may not be used for: general operating expenses, hospitality or food costs, travel outside Tennessee or any scholarly research, curriculum development, enrollment in an arts-related degree program, book publication or exhibits of historical objects.
- Question: I’ve never applied for an apprenticeship grant before and am a little intimidated by the process. What do I have to do to apply?
- Answer: The application is four (4) pages long and includes three sections: questions for the master (part A), questions for the apprentice (part B) and developing an apprenticeship plan (part C). Proof of Tennessee residency, two (2) letters of recommendation, resume (from master only) and eight (8) images of artwork for both master and apprentice must accompany the completed application. The majority of artists participating in previous MAAP programs had never applied for a grant before and reported that while the application took time to complete, it was very straightforward. Additional advice from previous applicants included:
- Not waiting until the last minute to get started on an application. A lead time of 5-10 days is recommended to adequately complete an application. All applications must be postmarked by October 31 and no late applications will be accepted.
- Not getting bogged down in specifics when completing the apprenticeship plan / part C of the application. Keeping the learning objectives broad gives the apprenticeship flexibility should the master and apprentice later decide to take a different direction.
- Getting to know the master/apprentice you’ve chosen to apply with before completing the application. The mentorship runs almost seven months and a minimum of 80-120 hours. Allowing time to get to know one another before committing to a concentrated apprenticeship helps prevent possible incompatibility.
- Question: How will I know if my application is chosen to receive funding?
- Answer: A jury panel of three (3) experts in the craft field will score each application, with top scoring applications advancing to face-to-face interviews. If selected, masters and apprentices will be interviewed together. Interviews will take place in Nashville within two weeks of the application deadline. Award notifications will be mailed within two weeks of interviews.
