APP-2031 · Appalachian Apprentice Concerts 2026
Cedar Heritage Trust · Community Arts · Requested $42,000
- Linda Park · board member · Reviewer serves on the board of Cedar Heritage Trust.
These reviewers are blocked from assignment by the COI guard. Any attempt is recorded in audit.
Q1. Describe the project, including community served and intended outcomes (300 words max).
The Appalachian Apprentice Concerts program pairs 12 emerging musicians with master traditional players for a year of mentorship, six free public concerts in Asheville and Boone, and a community archive of recordings. Project serves ~3,000 audience members and 12 apprentices, primarily youth from rural Appalachian counties with limited access to traditional arts training.
Q2. What is your workplan and timeline for the grant period?
Sep-Oct 2026: apprentice recruitment + matching. Nov 2026 - Apr 2027: monthly cohort gatherings + private mentor sessions. May-Aug 2027: concert series in 6 venues. Sep 2027: archive release + final showcase.
Q3. What measurable impact metrics will you report on?
Outputs: 12 apprenticeships completed, 6 public concerts, 1 community archive published. Outcomes: 90% apprentice retention, 2,500+ audience reached, 80% audience-survey satisfaction.
Q4. Summarize the project budget (top 4 line items).
Mentor stipends $14,000 · Apprentice stipends $8,000 · Concert production $11,500 · Archive + documentation $5,500 · Project management 15% allocation $3,000.
Q5. Describe your organizational capacity and any partner organizations.
Cedar Heritage Trust has run this program 4 prior years (most recently with $38k from Appalachian Regional Commission). Five-person staff, 14-member board, $1.2M annual budget. Partner: Asheville Music Initiative (venue + production).
Applicant
Cedar Heritage Trust
EIN 47-2918371 · Asheville, NC
Program
Community Arts
Community Arts 2026
Requested
$42,000
Aggregate score
87.4 / 100
Submitted
Apr 6, 2026
Hank Mendez
| Dimension | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Mission fit | 4.50 | Strong cultural-preservation alignment. |
| Feasibility | 4.00 | Realistic workplan; prior cycles ran on time. |
| Impact | 4.20 | Sustained apprenticeship model is durable. |
| Budget reasonableness | 4.00 | Stipends appropriate; venue costs reasonable. |
| Organizational capacity | 4.50 | Established team and audited financials. |
Felicia Brown
| Dimension | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Mission fit | 4.40 | Excellent fit with archive and tradition-bearer goals. |
| Feasibility | 4.20 | Solid timing; mentor pool already identified. |
| Impact | 4.60 | Archive deliverable extends reach beyond grant period. |
| Budget reasonableness | 4.00 | Reasonable mentor stipends, archive line appropriate. |
| Organizational capacity | 4.40 | Strong partner ecosystem. |
Ben Hartford
| Dimension | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Mission fit | 4.30 | Aligned with community arts mandate. |
| Feasibility | 4.00 | Concert calendar is ambitious but achievable. |
| Impact | 4.30 | Apprenticeship model creates lasting practitioner pipeline. |
| Budget reasonableness | 4.10 | Adequate documentation budget; consider increasing. |
| Organizational capacity | 4.30 | Healthy organization with proven delivery. |
| Reviewer | Due | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Hank Mendez | May 4, 2026 | Complete |
| Felicia Brown | May 4, 2026 | Complete |
| Ben Hartford | May 4, 2026 | Complete |
Hank Mendez
recommend · $42,000Recommend full $42k. Strong mission alignment, established track record, archive deliverable creates lasting value.