Mentors + Apprentices: Work from the 2025 Craft Apprentice Program
The Maine Crafts Association, in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission and the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, proudly announce the opening of the 10th annual Craft Apprentice Program Capstone Exhibition. The event will be held at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Edgecomb, Maine, opening October 3, 2025 and running through October 29, 2025. The exhibition celebrates the culmination of a seven month journey of growth, creativity, and learning between mentor craft artists and apprentices from Maine and New Hampshire. The scope of the 2025 apprenticeship cycle spanned natural dyeing & hand weaving, wood firing, handbuilt & wheel thrown ceramics, rug hooking, glassblowing and blacksmithing.
2025 Mentor + Apprentice Pairs:
- Diana Arcadipone with apprentice Cordelia Perry (ME, Paper)
- George Brace with apprentice Patricia Brace (ME, Blacksmithing)
- Grace Collette with apprentice Kaileigh Sargent (NH, Fiber)
- Jody Johnstone with apprentice Krystal Yavicoli (ME, Ceramics)
- Linda Perrin with apprentice Erin Bobo (ME, Glass)
- Martha Grover with apprentice Sophie List (ME, Ceramics)
- Pam Bartlett with apprentice Lynda Hadlock (NH, Fiber)
- Sarah Haskell with apprentice Amanda Pearson (ME, Fiber)
Event Details:
- Opening Reception: October 3, 2025 | 5 – 7pm
- Exhibition Dates: October 3 – 29, 2025
- Location: Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Barkan Gallery: 103 Cochran Rd, Edgecomb, ME 04556
- Admission: Free and open to the public
- The opening reception is an opportunity for guests to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, and browse completed pieces on display.
- The Barkan Gallery will be open Monday – Friday, 10am – 12pm & 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm and by appointment for the duration of the exhibition.
The Craft Apprentice Program (CAP) was established in 2016 by the Maine Crafts Association in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission. A new partnership with the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen expanded access to the program in 2023. CAP provides an in-studio educational opportunity for apprentices who demonstrate a commitment to further their abilities as craft artists. The apprenticeship focuses on the apprentice’s goals for their studio practice and craft career during 100 hours of one-on-one in-studio learning with a mentor artist. Both mentor and apprentice are awarded funding to support their time together. To close the program, mentors and apprentices participate in an alumni gathering, capstone exhibition and public reception sharing and celebrating works created during the apprenticeship period. Both events will be held at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Edgecomb, Maine.
The 2025 Craft Apprentice Program is supported by generous funding from the Maine Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts, exhibition sponsorship from Kennebec Savings Bank, media/magazine sponsorship from Maine Home + Design, program support from MCA organizational partnerships with League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation, and MCA Cornerstones Hay Runner & Woodhull.
Mentors + Apprentices: Work from the 2025 Craft Apprentice Program will travel to Concord, New Hampshire, and be on view from November 7 – December 5, with an opening reception to be held on Friday, November 7 at the Exhibition Gallery at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Headquarters, 49 South Main St, Concord, NH 03301.
2026 CAP Cycle
The 2026 Craft Apprentice Program application will open on Thursday, October 9.
Deadline to apply: Friday, December 5.
For prospective applicants:
Info Session #1: October 9: RSVP
Info Session #2: October 14: RSVP
Questions? Contact MCA Program Manager, Lizz Brown: lizz@mainecrafts.org
For eligibility, instructions & more info please visit mainecap.org.
Maine Craft Weekend
The Capstone Exhibition is a kickoff event for Maine Craft Weekend – an annual statewide tour of Maine craft studios, businesses and events. Learn more and join the tour at mainecraftweekend.org!
About our Host:
Founded in 1986, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts is a nonprofit organization that serves as a nexus for artists who create with clay. They foster the growth of ceramic artists at all career stages via residencies, workshops, educational programs, and public events. watershedceramics.org