Maine Craft Apprenticeship Program (CAP) Grant

The Maine Craft Apprenticeship Program (CAP) connects aspiring artisans with experienced mentors for 100 hours of hands-on training over seven months. This initiative fosters skill development, encourages creative entrepreneurship, and promotes sustainable craft practices in Maine and New Hampshire. By facilitating strong mentor-apprentice relationships, CAP aims to enhance the craft sector's resilience, support professional growth, and provide alternative funding avenues, ultimately enriching the local craft community.

The Maine Craft Apprenticeship Program (CAP) is offered through a partnership between the Maine Crafts Association, the Maine Arts Commission and the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. The program supports 100 hours of one to one training over seven-months between a mentor and apprentice. The learning experience is for apprentices who demonstrate a commitment to acquiring new skills, tools and management habits and furthering their craft practice; they accomplish this through a signifi cant relationship with a mentor artist. CAP celebrates the mentor/apprentice relationship as a way to generate creative entrepreneurship, envisioning a sustainable and resilient craft sector for Maine & New Hampshire.
Program Objectives
Providing makers with relevant and alternative educational experiences.
Promoting and facilitating craft as a viable career path.
Fostering deliberate mentoring.
Facilitating professional development of emerging makers.
Increasing pool of craft makers in the state.
Providing makers with alternative means of professional funding.
Develop and promote peer learning in the Maine craft community.
Relationship
A majority of the training happens at the mentor artist’s studio. Occasionally they visit other studios or events of relevance to their goals. MaineCAP requires that the pair submit interim and fi nal reports.
Alumni Network
To promote sustainability, current participants and alumni are invited to convene annually to discuss outcomes of MaineCAP, as well as to develop networking and foster further mentoring.

Eligibility

An applicant is eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:

• Mentor Artist and Apprentice have both resided full-time in Maine or New Hampshire for at least one year immediately prior to the application deadline.
• Mentor Artist and Apprentice will both reside full-time in Maine or New Hampshire throughout the apprenticeship.
• Mentor Artist and Apprentice demonstrate competency in an eligible craft art form.
• Mentor Artist and Apprentice are at least 18 years of age or older by the application deadline.

Ineligibility

The program supports craft artists working in craft media, which does not include photography, painting or drawing.