Celebrating 30 Years of Innovation in Tradition!
During 2022 the VFC is celebrating 30 years of Innovation in Tradition by looking back on how its Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (VTAAP) has both sustained and advanced traditional arts in Vermont over the last three decades.
With support from the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts VTAAP began in 1992 to support Vermont’s living cultural heritage. The program assists master artists of traditional and folk arts in passing on their knowledge and skills by bringing together those who share a commitment to keeping traditional cultural expressions vital and relevant.
During the past 30 years, Vermont Folklife Center has supported over 350 apprenticeships representing everything from the arts of native Abenaki and of English, French, Polish and Irish immigrants, to those of Lao, Somali Bantu, Congolese, Bosnian, Tibetan and Bhutanese Nepali refugee communities. These art forms reflect the cultural history, values, and aesthetics of the groups that practice them, helping to shape identity and support both individual and community wellbeing.
How Are We Celebrating?
The 30th Anniversary festivities will take place throughout 2022 and all over the state of Vermont!
We are currently developing a year-long schedule of exciting programs to showcase the many extraordinary artists who have participated in the program. We are also building a vision and laying the groundwork for the future of VTAAP, working from the strong foundation created through the past 30 years of Innovation in Tradition.
Stay tuned for more information about programming in the coming months. In the meantime, here are some ways you can learn more about the program RIGHT NOW!
Listen to our podcast, VT Untapped™:
Episode 15: “The Apprentices” - Hear from three artist/apprentice pairs about their experiences continuing to practice stone carving, Nepali singing and harmonium playing, and French Canadian weaving during the covid-19 pandemic.
Episode 6: “Remembering Martha” - Meet Martha Pellerin! Martha was a Franco-American musician, scholar, advocate, educator and song collector. She also participated in VTAAP as a master artist many times.
Check out these videos:
Tibetan Dance and Dranyen with master artist Migmar Tsering
French Canadian Weaving with master weaver Kate Smith and apprentice Jude Poor
Abenaki Ash Basket Making with master artist Jeanne Brink
Explore our full collection of videos created through field site documentation of Apprenticeship projects over the years.