Master Artist and Apprentice Grant

The Master Artist and Apprentice Grant, offered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts, aims to preserve traditional Alaska Native art forms through apprenticeships. This program supports a one-on-one learning experience between an apprentice and a master artist in various art disciplines, such as visual arts, crafts, and storytelling. Priority is given to cultural traditions, ensuring funds primarily support the master artist's fee, thereby fostering the growth of Alaska Native arts in the community.

The Alaska State Council on the Arts' mission is to foster the development of the arts for all Alaskans through education, partnerships, grants, and services.
The Master Artist and Apprentice Grant in Traditional Alaska Native Arts mission is to support and encourage the preservation and perpetuation of traditional Alaska Native art forms. Grants underwrite serious one-on-one study between an apprentice and a recognized master artist in any traditional Alaska Native art form.
Art forms include visual arts, traditional crafts, music, dance, storytelling, song and the creation of traditional functional objects.
The Alaska State Council on the Arts places the highest priority on apprenticeships in which an apprentice will be studying within his/her own cultural traditions, and the majority of the grant funds are assigned to the Master artist's fee.

Eligibility

IndividualsMust be 18 years of age or older (this may vary by grant category).Must be able to provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).To receive payment on any ASCA grant award, an individual must have a current vendor profile in the State of Alaska Vendor Self Service system. The Alaska State Council on the Arts believes learning within the immediate family should occur without the assistance of ASCA public arts funds.However, an MAA application may be considered if the Master artist and apprentice are immediate family, only if the skill and understanding of the art form or technology is traditionally transferred exclusively within a family or if the art form or technology is endangered. "Member of immediate family" is a person who is a spouse, sibling or blood relation up to and including the second degree of kinship (parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren, or a regular household member

Ineligibility

MAA grant funds may not be used for the purchase of tools or equipment, academic scholarships or tuition assistance, high school or college level credit, the purchase of materials inventory, pay for studio rent, or to underwrite a business.The apprentice does not receive payment for their work.