Wyoming Arts Council

Deadline is Sept. 1 for Wyoming Arts Council Mentoring Project Grants

Featured News | July 20, 2015

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The Wyoming Arts Council welcomes new applications for its 2016 Folk & Traditional Arts Mentoring Project Grants. Postmark deadline is Sept. 1, 2015.

Project Grants are designed to support the transmission of Wyoming’s finest Traditional and Folk skills through the natural process of in-person, hands-on instruction. A master artist selects a worthy apprentice to mentor over time in order to advance the skills of the student from proficient to excellent. All art forms (music, dance, craft, etc.) are encouraged.

“So many valuable Wyoming traditions are lost with time and lack of interest. The Mentoring Project Grants honor our tradition bearers by recognizing their quality of work and by committing funds to ensure the next generation continues their efforts,” states Anne Hatch, WAC folklorist.

Funded projects run January through October and are no less than six months. Grant amount is $3,000 ($2,300 for master honorarium and $700 for materials and/or travel).

Mentoring Grants for 2015 are:

• Master western-style leatherworker Niki DeLancy will work with apprentice McKenzi Digby (both of Laramie) to create a variety of cowboy gear including chaps. Digby notes that ‘ultimately, I would love my leather art to be featured in art shows across the state of Wyoming and eventually the entire western United States.”
• Master Northern Arapaho beadworker Marcus Dewey will work with apprentice Charles Dewey (both of St. Stephens) to decorate a set of teepee bags, a type of horse pannier. “This project guarantees that the traditional art of beadwork is not lost.”
• Master leatherworker Von Ringler will work with apprentice Alex Whistler (both of Powell) to develop patterns and decorative designs for firearm holsters. Ringler states that “In this age of mass produced cheaply manufactured imports, the role of craftsman cannot be underestimated,” and that Whistler ‘has natural ability and attention to detail which is essential to success in leatherwork.  I am confident that he will help keep the tradition of quality craftsmanship alive.”

For more information, contact WAC folklorist Anne Hatch at anne.hatch@wyo.gov or 307-777-7742 or visit www.wyomingartscouncil.org

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