Professional Development Opportunities

Professional Development Opportunities

The purpose of Tamarack Foundation programs is to encourage Tamarack-juried West Virginia artisans, 18 years and older, to reach their full artistic and business potential by providing resources for training, education, and consultations in order to enhance economic opportunities to advance their careers. The programs are intended to further the professional development of working artists.

Outreach Education Grants  

Through these grants and mini-grants, Tamarack artisans are given the opportunity to identify training opportunities they would like to explore and that may be beneficial to their businesses. The purpose of mini-grants and/or grants is to pay for or offset costs of attendance at courses, seminars, and classes, etc.

For more information about Outreach Education Grants, what to submit and an application, please click here. 

Equipment Grant Program

The Tamarack Foundation Equipment Grant Program provides an opportunity for Tamarack artisans to increase their production capability, improve the safety of their work environment and/or expand product lines with grants of up to $1,000 to purchase new and/or improved equipment.

For more information about the Foundation's Equipment Grant Program and an application,

click here.

If you have any questions regarding any of the Tamarack Foundation programs, contact Ron DeWitt at 1-88 TAMARACK (1-888-262-7225) x149 or e-mail

rdewitt@tamarackwv.com.        

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships provide an opportunity for established artisans to expand their businesses and offer improved customer service.  Apprentices may be employed for part-time or seasonal employment.

The Tamarack Foundation will assist in the placement of apprentices to pay an hourly rate based on current market salary ranges, plus payroll taxes, for up to one year. This will fund approximately half of the apprentice’s salary, with the other half being paid by the master craftsmen.  The program is intended to raise not only the trainees’ craft skill level, but potentially their standard of living.

For more information about Apprenticeships, what to submit and an application, click here.

  

Create WV Conference 2008

On behalf of the Create WV volunteer team, we would like to invite artists and arts organizations to join us for the 2008 Create WV Conference held Oct 20-22, 2008, at Snowshoe Mountain Resort.  For those unfamiliar with the Create WV initiative, we invite you to visit www.createwv.com. Our mission is to “develop creative communities for the new economy” throughout West Virginia.

 A preliminary registration site has been set up at www.createwvevents.com and an early bird sign-up special price of $229 is available until 8/31/08 (after that date, $349). Special lodging rates from $84 on up are also available directly from Snowshoe by calling 877-441-4386.

 In addition, we have set up a process by which artists can apply for a scholarship to attend the conference in exchange for their participation via display, performance or demonstration. The scholarship covers entry to the event and all food, lodging and materials (estimated at $550 - $600 value).

 We highly value the participation of all creative industry members in this initiative to expand the possibilities and opportunities in West Virginia. We are particularly interested in artists who are engaged with their community and are interested in participating with other like-minded citizens and leaders to affect positive change in their region. We believe that artists will benefit from the conference experience through networking with others inside and outside of their typical circles of influence with the mutual goal of a healthier West Virginia economy and community.

 Would you and your organization consider promoting this opportunity through your network of artist contacts? We have a tight deadline for considering brief proposals from interested artists and we want to ensure that as many interested individuals know about it as possible.

 Attached is an invitation letter that you can forward to your contacts. If you have any questions, please contact Heidi Schmalbach at h.schmalbach@katscandu.com or 304.343.2883. Thank you very much for your support, and we hope to see you at Snowshoe Mountain in October!

Additional Opportunities for Artisans

•Glass Artisans
"Nationwide Tour Players Cup Competition" - Design Winning Trophy

Moundsville Glassmaker Wins Golf Trophy Design Competition

 

South Charleston, West Virginia- The West Virginia Division of Tourism and the PGA TOUR announced today that Fred Wilkerson Jr. has created the winning entry in the Nationwide Tour Players Cup trophy design competition.  Wilkerson, a glassmaker from Moundsville, Marshall County, said he was thrilled to be named the winner.

 

“I’m so happy to have won this competition,” Wilkerson said from his Moundsville glassmaking company, Wilkerson Glass Company.  “I had a strong image of what I felt the trophy for this world-class golf tournament should look like and was able to translate that mental picture into the winning entry.”