Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP), 1989-2008, 1989-2008

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program collection consists of color slides, B&W and color photographs, cassette recordings of interviews with the master artists, studio recordings, artifacts and print materials documenting the apprenticeships.

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP), an annual program from 1989-2001, awarded monetary stipends ($1,500 until 2001 then $2,000) to ten master traditional artists to teach specific cultural traditions to one or more apprentices within their cultural communities. Each year the apprenticeships took place over an eight-month period and culminated with an exhibit in the Governor's office and Oregon Historical Society. The TAAP has awarded 110 master artists and 130 apprentices representing Native American, African, Asian/Pacific, European, Latino, South American, Mid-Eastern, South Asian, Slavic and other traditions.

The early program focused on Native American and refugee communities. Of special interest are plateau cradleboard, tule mat making, basketry, Washaat religious singing, hide tanning, and drum and rattle making. Some of the refugee arts include Afghan, Lao

Program coordinators, Nancy Nusz (1990-1993), Eliza Buck (1994-1997) and Leila Childs (1998-2001), organized an annual TAAP exhibit in the State Capitol and at Oregon Historical Society to display the works completed during the apprenticeships.

The TAAP has been sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oregon Arts Commission, the Regional Arts and Culture Council, the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, US Band, the Lila Wallace Fund for Folk Culture, PGE Foundation, and the Hoover Family