October 3, 2025–November 28, 2025

Celebrating its 16th year, the Master Artist Apprentice Program (MAAP) is a recognized cooperative partnership between the Tennessee Arts Commission and Tennessee Craft. The mission of this collaboration is to encourage and invest in the continuation, advancement, and creation of craft in Tennessee by recognizing the role of the master craft artist and apprentice relationship to preserve the state’s cultural heritage. This partnership provides craft artists with relevant and alternative educational experiences and promotes and facilitates fine craft as a viable career path for Tennessee artists through mentoring and professional development of emerging craft artists.

This year, four Tennessee craft masters shared their significant skills and creative aptitude by providing six months (December 2024-June 2025) of one-on-one mentoring instruction with apprentice artists to encourage, strengthen, and grow their artistic foundation. Each apprentice chose challenging goals that helped to catapult their skills and knowledge as craft artists. The MAAP partnership continues to cultivate the traditional master/apprentice relationship by awarding selected artists with a grant to ensure craft art is nurtured in Tennessee. More.