NC Folklife Apprenticeship Program

NC Folklife Apprenticeship Program

Mentor/Apprentice Application Form - FY2026-27
Review the grant guidelines and all application questions in advance of preparing and submitting your application: NC Folklife Apprenticeship Program Grant Guidelines and Application FY 2026-27
Mentor Application - Contact and Basic Information

To be completed by the Mentor
Mentor Name

First NameLast Name
Mentor Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Mentor Home County
Mentor Main Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Mentor Mobile Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Mentor Email
example@example.com
Mentor Place of Birth
Mentor Date of Birth

MonthDayYear

Mentor Application - Narrative Questions

It is recommended that each question be answered in at least one full paragraph.
What is the traditional practice or art form that you will be teaching?
How has this tradition been part of the cultural life, history, or heritage of your community?
For how long have you practiced this tradition, and how did you first learn?
Tell us about any previous teaching experience.
Tell us about your relationship with the applying apprentice.
Please describe how a funded apprenticeship would facilitate an opportunity for you that may not otherwise be feasible. For example: financial compensation for time taken from other responsibilities; expense of materials or travel; urgency for mentor artist to pass on knowledge.

Apprentice Application - Contact and Basic Information

To be completed by the Apprentice
Apprentice Name

First NameLast Name
Apprentice Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Apprentice Home County
Apprentice Main Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Apprentice Mobile Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Apprentice Email
example@example.com
Apprentice Place of Birth
Apprentice Date of Birth

MonthDayYear

Apprentice Application - Narrative Questions

It is recommended that each question be answered in at least one full paragraph.
What is the traditional practice or art form that you will be learning?
Please describe your current skill level in this tradition and your need for intensive training with a mentor.
What does this tradition mean to you personally? What role does it play in your life or the cultural life, history, or heritage of your community?
Why do you want to work with this mentor artist in particular?
In which ways do you plan to continue working in this tradition in the future? How will your participation in an apprenticeship impact your community or the continuation of the tradition?
Please describe how a funded apprenticeship would facilitate an opportunity for you that may not otherwise be possible. For example: need for financial compensation for time taken from other responsibilities; expense of materials or travel; urgency for mentor artist to pass on knowledge.

Workplan

The Mentor and Apprentice should fill out this section together.
List the skills and techniques that will be taught during the apprenticeship (for example, which tunes, forms, concepts, or styles do you want the apprentice(s) to learn, which objects do you want them to make?)
What will the apprentice be expected to do between sessions? Please be specific.
What will the finished product of the apprenticeship be? (For example: build three ceramic pieces; make one finished quilt; develop a repertory of twenty songs or tunes; learn three complete dances)
How often will you meet, where will you meet, and for how long will each session last?
What supplies and tools will be required for the apprenticeship, and who will be responsible for providing them?
How will you track your experience together? (Examples: Photo log, video or audio recordings, blog, social media, written chart or log book) Documentation will help communicate the success of your partnership.
Describe your ideas for 1 – 2 possible public presentations that you would like to offer at the end of the apprenticeship, and where they might take place in your own town, city, county, or region. (Examples: exhibit, demonstration, performance, web presentation) Please contact Folklife staff for help with this question if needed.

Work Samples

Please see guidelines for work sample requirements.
File Upload

File types accepted: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, csv, txt, jpg, jpeg, png
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Application Review & Signature Form
This form must be completed and signed by all mentor and apprentice applicants. If another person assisted in preparing or submitting this application, that person must also complete the “Application Collaborator” section that will appear after answering "Yes" to the question below.

The North Carolina Folklife Institute welcomes assistance from family members, advocates, translators, cultural workers, or other collaborators who help applicants complete or submit applications. This process helps ensure that all applicants have reviewed the contents of the application and agree that it accurately represents their work, goals, experiences, and voices.
Was this application prepared or submitted with assistance from another person acting on behalf of the mentor and/or apprentice?
Mentor & Apprentice Acknowledgement
By signing below, we acknowledge that:
- We have reviewed the contents of this application in full.
- We understand the proposed apprenticeship work plan and grant expectations.
- We agree that the application accurately represents our work, experiences, goals, and intentions.
- We understand that this apprenticeship may be documented for educational, archival, reporting, and promotional purposes related to the NC Folklife Apprenticeship Program and the North Carolina Folklife Institute.
Mentor Signature

I agree to the proposed work plan above and understand the stated expectations. I will allow this apprenticeship to be documented for the purpose of supporting the impact of the Folklife Apprenticeship program.
Apprentice Signature

I agree to the proposed work plan above and understand the stated expectations. I will allow this apprenticeship to be documented for the purpose of supporting the impact of the Folklife Apprenticeship program.
Application Collaborator (if applicable)
Collaborator First and Last Name:
Relationship to Applicants (friend, family member, translator, advocate, organization staff, etc.):
Collaborator Phone Number:
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Collaborator Email:
example@example.com
Please briefly describe the assistance provided: (Examples: writing assistance, translation, typing responses, internet access, uploading files, application submission assistance)
If an application is submitted online by a collaborator on behalf of the mentor and/or apprentice, the mentor and apprentice must sign the Application Review & Signature Form by hand, and the fully completed form must be uploaded with the application submission below. Download the Application & Signature Form.
Upload Completed Application Review and Signature Form

Signed by Mentor, Apprentice, and Collaborator
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Collaborator Signature

By signing here, I affirm that: I assisted the applicants at their request; I reviewed the completed application with the mentor and apprentice before submission; To the best of my knowledge, the application accurately reflects the applicants’ own experiences, intentions, and voices.
Please verify that you are human
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Mentor Application - Contact and Basic Information

Mentor Application - Narrative Questions

Apprentice Application - Contact and Basic Information

Apprentice Application - Narrative Questions

Workplan

Work Samples

Application Review & Signature Form

Application Collaborator (if applicable)