Maryland State Arts Council Awards $40,000 in Folklife Apprenticeships

Funds will support education in traditional arts and culture across the state

BALTIMORE, MD (July 31, 2020) - Maryland Traditions, the traditional arts program of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), has awarded $40,000 to traditional artists in the state. The funding supports the sharing of traditional arts skills from a master artist to a learner artist during a one-year teaching period. Ten grants of $4,000 each have been awarded for the 2020-2021 granting period to the apprenticeship teams listed below, with master artists named first.

  • Peter Arteaga (Montgomery County) & Pablo de Oliveira (Prince George’s County): Cape Verdean music

  • Marquis Gasque (Anne Arundel County) & Torian Sanders (Baltimore City): Baltimore Club music

  • Julia Gutiérrez-Rivera & Xiomara Rivera (Frederick County): Puerto Rican bomba and plena percussion and dance

  • Amadou Kouyate & Jacquelyn Clemmons (Baltimore City): Manding (west African) music

  • Janice Marshall (Somerset County) & Anna Marshall (Kent County): Smith Island Cake making

  • Deepak Ram & Nistha Raj (Montgomery County): Hindustani music

  • Gerald Rameau & Gary Aime (Baltimore City): Haitian drumming

  • Rickie Simpkins & Abigail Hobart (Prince George’s County): Bluegrass fiddle

  • Richard Smoker & Larry Beauchamp (Somerset County): Decoy carving

  • Ralph & Dennis Zotigh (Charles County): Native American powwow singing

Maryland Traditions has offered Folklife Apprenticeship grants annually since 2004. Applications are accepted in winter, with awards disbursed the following summer. As part of their work, each team participates in a photo shoot and recorded interview to document their activities. Folklife Apprenticeships are distinct from registered apprenticeships offered through the Maryland Apprenticeship Training Program, which supports workforce development.

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About the Maryland State Arts Council

The Maryland State Arts Council plays an essential role ensuring every person has access to the transformative power of the arts. The Maryland State Arts Council advances the arts in our state by providing leadership that champions creative expression, diverse programming, equitable access, lifelong learning, and the arts as a celebrated contributor to the quality of life for all the people of Maryland. For more information, visit www.msac.org.