Seeking nominations for traditional artists

We’re launching our fifth year of the Master-Apprentice Award program in support of master traditional artists and apprentices in Arizona. This year we’re making 10 awards to pairs of Arizona based artists/tradition bearers: at $2,500 for the Master along with $500 to an emerging artist/tradition bearer engaged in learning and transmission of traditional knowledge.

Nominate someone your know or yourself!

Deadline for nominations: EXTENDED TO JUNE 1, 2019.

For information on the nomination process, visit https://www.southwestfolklife.org/master-apprentice-program/

Examples of fields artists might work in include, but are not limited to
artisans: weavers, basket makers, jewelers, mask makers;
occupational folklife practitioners: adobe brick makers, leather workers, ironworkers;
oral tradition practitioners: storytellers, musicians, poets; and
performing arts practitioners: dancers, traditional garment makers, ritual object makers.

Artists are selected by a panel and awarded for their knowledge, dedication, and commitment to passing on living traditions from our region and beyond. Support for the program comes from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts’ State Arts Partnership Grant, the Surdna Foundation, and local donors. 

The Master-Apprentice Award Program is the first award program of its kind in the State of Arizona. SFA joins over 30 Traditional Artist Apprenticeship programs across the nation. The program affirms the organization’s commitment to individual heritage based artists, economic development and the transmission of cultural knowledge.

SFA’s Master-Apprentice Award program is supported by The Arizona Commission on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Surdna Foundation and matched by individual gifts from local donors. Orientation sessions will be held as requested by communities or individuals. Contact Program Coordinator, Nelda Ruiz at 520-621-4046 for more information.