Florida Folklife Program Seeks Master Artists and Apprentices

Tallahassee, FL –

~ Interested masters and apprentices must apply as a team ~

Secretary of State Ken Detzner today announced that the Florida Department of State is seeking master artist and apprentice applications for the 2014-15 Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Expert practitioners of traditional arts and people with a strong commitment to learning and perpetuating Florida folk arts are encouraged to apply.

"Florida is greatly enriched by the Folklife Apprenticeship Program and its mission to facilitate the transmission of traditional culture and values within a community," said Secretary Detzner. "In sharing technical skills and cultural knowledge with apprentices, these master artists maintain their tradition as a vital part of Florida’s folk heritage."

The Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program provides an opportunity for qualified apprentices to study traditional arts for an extended period with recognized master folk artists. Traditions supported by the program to date have included Seminole patchwork, Irish fiddling, Afro-Caribbean percussion, Cracker cow-whip making, African American blues, Hungarian embroidery and many more.

Although applications are accepted throughout the year, the deadline is May 15, 2014. Interested masters and apprentices must apply as a team by submitting the joint application to the Florida Folklife Program in the Division of Historical Resources. The Florida Folklife Council will review the applications and recommend apprenticeship teams to the Secretary of State for approval. Final decisions should be announced by August. The program provides a stipend to the master/apprentice teams as well as funds for supplies.

For an application or additional information, contact State Folklorist Amanda Hardeman, Florida Folklife Program, Division of Historical Resources, 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399 or call 850.245.6333 or 800.847.PAST. Applications can be found on the Florida Folklife Program website at flheritage.com/preservation/folklife/apprenticeship. The Florida Folklife Program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Folk and Traditional Arts Program.

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About the Florida Folklife Program
The Florida Folklife Program, a component of the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources, documents and presents Florida's folklife, folklore and folk arts. The program coordinates a wide range of activities and projects designed to increase the awareness of Floridians and visitors alike about Florida's traditional culture. Established in 1979 by the legislature to document and present Florida folklife, this program is one of the oldest state folk arts programs in the nation. For more information about Florida folklife, visit flheritage.com/preservation/folklife/.