Evaluate the 2022-2023 Folklife Apprenticeships!

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is seeking Maryland residents to serve as panelists to review Folklife Apprenticeships applications for the 2023 fiscal year. Offered annually, Folklife Apprenticeships fund a master artist teaching skills to a learner artist, supporting the vitality of traditional arts in Maryland.

Panelist work is at the heart of MSAC’s service. This work enlists members of Maryland’s arts sector to make the funding recommendations that MSAC uses in its grantmaking. Panelist service is a way to ensure that the needs of your community are represented on the state level.

To be eligible, applicants must be Maryland residents. Panelists must have access to a computer with internet connection to complete reviews. 

What to Expect:

  • Serving six weeks, with assignments spread throughout the service period. 
  • Attending a required 90-minute virtual orientation and training. 
  • Independently reading and scoring grant applications by the established deadlines. Scores and comments are submitted online.
  • Attending a required virtual panel of approximately four hours, depending on the number of applications received.
  • Receiving compensation of $350, assuming the completion of all scheduled assignments.

How to Apply:

  • Submit your application via MSAC’s online grants management system, SmartSimple. 
  • Click the “Apply Now” link below to log in or create a free account in SmartSimple; be sure to log in as an individual, rather than an organization, as organization-based accounts do not have access to panelist applications. If you do not have an individual account, you may create one for free by registering as an “Independent Artist.”
  • Under Funding Opportunities, select "Public Call."
  • Fill out the information in the "Contact Information" tab.
  • Select the "Narrative" tab.
  • From the dropdown menu labeled "I am applying as a," select "Panelist Call," and click "Save Draft" to populate the application.
  • Select “Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship” as the Grant Program, and fill in the remainder of the form.
  • Click “Submit.”

Apply now

Deadline: 11:59 p.m., January 22nd, 2022.

If you are interested in serving as a panelist but have questions about the application process, please contact MSAC Folklife Specialist Ryan Koons at ryan.koons@maryland.gov

Folklife Apprenticeships support living cultural traditions and are distinct from registered apprenticeships offered through the Maryland Apprenticeship Training Program (MATP), which supports workforce development. For more information on MATP, visit dllr.state.md.us/employment/appr.