Photo: © Coco McCracken
From the earliest days of focusing on Wabanaki basketmakers to the more recent traditional arts of Maine's immigrant communities, the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is now in its 36th year. From Northwoods paddle and snowshoe making to Cambodian dance, Congolese fashion, and Rwandan drumming, the 2025-2026 apprenticeships reflect the diversity of traditional artists who call Maine home.
What is an apprenticeship all about? It's a bridge between generations, connecting an experienced master artist with an aspiring student. Through a one-on-one, in-person exchange, cultural knowledge and skills are passed down and brought to life in a new generation.
Traditional artists and their apprentices apply to work together for up to one year, with up to $3,000 available to cover teaching fees, supplies, and travel. These master artists are not just keepers of their culture, but lively creators as well. Practicing and teaching their art is a a source of strength, knowledge, and creativity as they pass their skills on to the next generation and in doing so an entire community’s sense of continuity and connection is renewed.
The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Maine Arts Commission.
TRADITIONAL ARTS NETWORK (TAN)
Faki Congolese Brass Band
Photo: © Coco McCracken
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A collaboration between Mayo Street Arts and Cultural Resources, TAN grew out of discussions with Portland based traditional artists interested in networking with other immigrant artists and communities.
TAN offers immigrant artists opportunities to develop their creative practice as well as well as support for maintaining cultural traditions through the following programs:
Opportunities to meet other artists, share your work, and learn from each other
For information about upcoming gatherings, click here.
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Micro grants for traditional artists ranging from $500-$1,000
For information about grant opportunities, click here.
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APPRENTICESHIPS
Alexandra Conover Bennett teaching apprentice Nate Knight paddlemaking
Photo: © Peter Dembski
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Through direct support of cultural mentors, the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program connects experienced traditional artists with younger students for an exchange of techniques and cultural knowledge.
The program helps communities sustain their own cultural heritage by providing teaching opportunities for accomplished mentors to pass on their skills to an apprentice of their choice. Traditional Arts are passed down from one generation to the next, usually within families and communities and take many forms including vocal and instrumental music, dance, crafts, and textile arts.
Based on their experience and commitment to a particular traditional art form, mentors and their apprentices apply to work together, usually up to a one-year period. Up to $3,000 is available for mentors’ teaching fees, supplies and travel costs.
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To apply for funding click here.
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Click here to view current and past grant recipients.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Always Home: Wabanaki Traditional Arts exhibit at Monson Arts
Photo: © Daniel Bouthot
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From Wabanaki basketmakers and forest-based artists of the Northern Forest, to Maine’s new immigrant communities, for decades, Cultural Resources has produced exhibits, audio programs, apprenticeship programs and gatherings that serve a wide range of traditional artists and their communities.
These programs are at the core
of Cultural Resources’ mission, utilizing fieldwork and organizing to build partnerships that develop community-based programs that
promote cultural resilience and honor traditional cultural practices.
