Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship (FAA) Program
Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship (FAA) Program supports Wisconsin artists and culture bearers in teaching apprentices community-rooted skills and knowledge to sustain and advance traditions.
This grant was recently updated
The FY28 deadline is March 18, 2027, replacing March 19, 2026. Activities shift from July 1, 2026–May 30, 2027 to July 1, 2027–May 30, 2028; final reports move from June 30, 2027 to June 30, 2028, and urgency is now labeled a bonus criterion.
Funder: Wisconsin Arts Board
Due Dates: March 5, 2026 (FY27 first-time applicant intent) | March 18, 2027 (FY28 application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $3,500 for an apprenticeship occurring July 1, 2027–May 30, 2028
Summary: Supports Wisconsin traditional artists in passing community-rooted artistic skills and cultural knowledge to committed apprentices.
Key Information: The Mentor Artist applies, and the apprenticeship must include a final public presentation in the community.
Description
The Wisconsin Arts Board’s Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program supports exemplary traditional artists and culture bearers as they transmit skills and knowledge to committed apprentices. Eligible traditions include basketry, beadwork, embroidery, old-time music, ethnic dance and singing, instrument building, traditional foodways, and other community-rooted arts. Cultural communities may share ethnicity, language, religion, occupation, recreational pursuits, or a geographic region.
The program aims to sustain and advance traditions within communities where they have value and a traditional place. Priority goes to instruction in art forms at risk of being lost and traditions that preserve or revitalize endangered languages. Apprenticeships combine instruction with a public presentation, such as an exhibit, performance, or workshop demonstrating the tradition in its community.
