2018-2019 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants Announced

The NH State Council on the Arts is thrilled to announce the awarding of Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants to 5 Master and Apprentice teams. Apprenticeship grants help communities preserve their cultural heritage through traditional crafts, music, and dance so that future generations can continue to benefit from them. Apprenticeship grants fund a master traditional artist to teach an experienced apprentice in one-to-one sessions over a period of six to ten months. Nearly every state in the US has an apprenticeship program that is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Here are the 2018-2019 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Teams:

Photo: Sylvia and Anne practicing accordion music at Sylvia's home in Concord.
Photo by Kayla Schweitzer.







Accordion Music of New England and Scotland

Master Artist: Sylvia Miskoe (Concord, NH)

Apprentice: Anne Baier (Bow, NH)



Photo: Cinnamon Teal Decoy by Fred Dolan.
Photo submitted by Fred Dolan.







Decoy Carving & Painting

Master Artist: Fred Dolan (Strafford, NH)

Apprentice: Paul Spencer (Rochester, NH)



Photo: Sarah May and R.P. at press – "Field printing," Hillsboro 2016.

Photo submitted by R.P. Hale. 

Letterpress Printing

Master Artist: R.P. Hale (Concord, NH)

Apprentice: Sarah May Schultz (Epsom, NH)

Photo: St. Nicholas, Miracle Worker Icon by Marina Forbes, 2016.
Photo submitted by Marina Forbes.

Russian Iconography Painting



Master Artist: Marina Forbes (Rochester, NH)

Apprentice: Sister Fran DeMers (Manchester, NH)





Photo: German "Masterpiece" padlock with key
by Kevin Moreau, 2013. Photo submitted by Kevin Moreau.





Blacksmithing (focus on pre-industrial handmade locks)



Master Artist: Kevin Moreau (Brattleboro, VT)

Apprentice: Thomas Boucher (Northwood, NH)



2017 Festivals, Fairs & Celebrations in New Hampshire!

Colombian Dancers at the 2016 Concord Multicultural Festival. Photo by Anura Guruge. 

It's that time again in New Hampshire-summer time (next week officially anyway)! Good weather (hopefully!) coupled with great food, music, culture, arts and community- there are lots of celebrations, fairs and festivals to be excited about this summer! Below are some festivals, fairs and other celebrations in and around New Hampshire to enjoy! Make sure to check out area Old Home Days, music and food festivals  and agricultural fairs as well!

June 23-25	Biddeford, ME	35th La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival
June 24	Concord, NH	Concord Multicultural Festival
June 29-July 4, July 6-9	Washington, D.C.	Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Circus Arts, On the Move, 50 Year / 50 Objects & 50th Anniversary
July 8-9	Warner, NH	MKIM Annual Intertribal Pow Wow
July 9	Laconia, NH	Jewish Food Festival
July 15	Exeter, NH	American Independence Festival
July 28-30	Lowell, MA	Lowell Folk Festival
August 5-13	Newbury, NH	League of NH Craftmen's Fair
August 18-20	Manchester, NH	Mahrajan Middle Eastern Festival
August 18-20	Lincoln, NH	Boogie N' Blues Festival
August 19	Manchester, NH	We Are One-African, Caribbean and Latino Festival
August 26-27	Manchester, NH	Greek Fest
September 2-3	Dover, NH	Dover Greek Festival
September 8-10	Greensboro, NC	National Folk Festival
September 9	Laconia, NH	Laconia Multicultural Festival
September 15-17	Lincoln, NH	New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival
September 23	Hillsborough, NH	Schnitzel Fest New Hampshire
September 23-24	Portsmouth, NH	Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival