Indiana's Apprenticeship Initiative
TAI's Apprenticeship award recipients
What is an Apprenticeship Program?
Who benefits from an Apprenticeship Program?
E-panel for review of applications (login required)
Application for the Apprenticeship Program

Indiana's Apprenticeship Initiative
Apprenticing with a teacher is a time-honored way of passing on traditional arts from one generation to the next. TAI seeks to support and honor Indiana's traditional artists and expand public awareness of traditional arts through its Apprenticeship Program.

TAI worked with a few artist-apprentice consultants to start its apprenticeship program. Unlike many states across the United States, Indiana has never had an Apprenticeship Program. In the coming years, we intend to build a strong program in the Hoosier state.

TAI's Artist-Apprentice pairs

	Mike Macchia, accordionist (Apprentice: Patti Kupchik) 2005
	Francis Geels, old-time fiddler (Apprentices: Dan Burgan and Anthony Krich) 2004
	Kenny Stone, bluegrass fiddler (Apprentice: Scott Conley) 2004 (Apprentice: Shannon Doolittle) 2006
	Prince Julius Adeniyi, Yoruba drummer (Apprentices: Keesha Dixon and Anthony DeMar) 2003
	Jim Cooper, catfish hoop netmaker (Apprentice: Dan Cain) 2002
	Milan Opacich, tamburitza luthier (Apprentice: John Miksich) 2001
	Angie Caldwell, bluegrass musician (Apprentices: Brandon and Jourdan Thompson) 2001

What is an Apprenticeship Program?
In 1996, the National Endowment for the Arts published a booklet called "In Good Hands," to describe Apprenticeship programs. It notes that, state apprenticeship programs in the folk and traditional arts help people throughout the U.S. "to keep on keeping on" with cherished traditions learned from members of their community.

The program brings a skilled artist together with a committed apprentice for intensive instruction. Apprenticeship teams apply for grant funds to cover the cost of supplies, teaching time, and travel. A panel selects participants based on artistic quality and feasibility of study plan. In practice, apprenticeship relationships often culminate in a public presentation or result in a continuing partnership.

Who benefits from an Apprenticeship Program?
Apprenticeships produce a ripple effect felt far beyond the artist pair and lasting long after their grant-supported time of instruction is over. Artists build skills and confidence and gain new recognition and opportunities. Communities enjoy positive publicity and affirm the value of cultural heritage. Sponsoring agencies reach out to underserved populations and enrich their programming. Art forms that may be languishing find a new lease on life with a younger generation.