West Virginia Folklife seeks statewide applications for 2026–27 Folklife Apprenticeship Program

PRESS RELEASE

Charleston—West Virginia Folklife, a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council, is now accepting  applications for its statewide Folklife Apprenticeship Program.  

Since 2017, the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program has supported expert traditional artists  working with dedicated apprentices on a yearlong apprenticeship to teach traditional music, dance,  craft, foodways, storytelling and more. This popular program follows the time-tested model of one-to one teaching so that apprentices may carry on techniques, artistry, stories and traditional knowledge of  communities from throughout the Mountain State. 

Applications are due September 18, 2026, for the 2026-27 program. The application, guidelines and  instructions for how to apply can be found at wvfolklife.org. Mentors and their proposed apprentices  must apply together. Applications will be evaluated by a review panel, and successful applicants will be  notified in November 2026. 

Teaching artists will receive $3,000, and apprentices $800, for participating in the program. Pairs may  request an additional $400 to reimburse for expenses related to their apprenticeship. Folklife  apprenticeship pairs design their own work plans, and they are expected to participate in a public  presentation, recorded interview, virtual meetings as a cohort with other selected pairs and a final  public showcase.  

The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program is facilitated by the West Virginia Folklife Program at  the West Virginia Humanities Council. The Folklife Apprenticeship Program is supported in part by a  grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  

West Virginia Folklife is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, presentation and support of  West Virginia’s cultural heritage and living traditions. For more information, visit wvfolklife.org. For  questions about the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, contact Jennie Williams at  williams@wvhumanities.org or 304-346-8500. Follow our YouTube channel @WestVirginiaFolklife to  watch past West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship showcases.