Our Program
The Maine Craft Apprentice Program (CAP) lasts for seven months, March through September. Applicants apply jointly, providing clear, agreed upon goals, a basic plan for how goals will be achieved, and a proposed budget for the apprentice’s honorarium. Both must also submit resumes and images of current work.

Partners and Funding

CAP is produced by the Maine Crafts Association in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission and with generous funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Eligibility
Eligibility requires participants to be at least eighteen years of age, current Maine residents, and apprentices must demonstrate foundational skills in the medium they wish to pursue. The program supports craft artists working in craft media, which does not include photography, painting or drawing. Please contact us if you are unsure if your media qualifies.

Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by a panel of Maine professionals for a first round elimination. The panel also interviews the finalist pairs with awards given to three or more joint applicants.

2020 Jury Panel 

Kim Dailey | CAP ’19 Master, Owner Kim Dailey Woodworking

Daisy Desrosiers | Lunder Institute for American Art Director of Programs

Tammy Knight | Program Manager of Maine Made – America’s Best

Honorarium
Both master and apprentice receive honorariums based on a recommended one hundred hours of one-on-one training ($3000 to the master, $1000 to the apprentice). The honorarium for the master artist covers their time and transference of knowledge/expertise, while the apprentice’s funds are for supplies/equipment.

Relationship
A majority of the training happens at the master’s studio. Occasionally they visit other studios or events of relevance to their goals. Although we provide a distinct structure for implementation, MaineCAP also allows for adaptations as the pair sees fit to maximize the experience for each. MaineCAP requires that the pair submit interim and final reports.

2020 Program Exhibition

To close the program, all artists participate in an exhibition at a highly attended venue. Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts is the 2020 organizational partner and will host the 2020 CAP Alumni Gathering and 2020 Exhibition. Maine Home + Design magazine is the exclusive magazine sponsor. 

Masters & Apprentices: Work from Maine’s 2020 Craft Apprentice Program  will be on view at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME from October 1-30, 2020 with an opening reception Friday, October 2, in conjunction with Maine Craft Weekend.

Public opening reception with the artists Friday, October 2, 5-7pm| Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. 

The exhibition will feature work created during the seven month apprenticeship by master/apprentice pairs Thomas Berger and Anne Alexander (stone carving), Tim Christensen and Jena Merrill (ceramics), J.E. Paterak and Shelby Goldsmith (jewelry), Nisa Smiley and Jennifer Marshall (jewelry) and Chuck Lakin and Clifford Pettitt (woodworking), Kenneth Kortemeier and Will Wheeler (woodworking), Jayne Redman and Barbara Hopkins (jewelry).