NC Folklife Institute Announces 2025 In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Awardees

$10,000 Awards Support Apprenticeship Pairs in NC’s Mountain Communities to Preserve Traditional Arts

DURHAM, N.C. (November 19, 2025) — The North Carolina Folklife Institute is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Awards, a program supporting the continuation of traditional arts and cultural practices across North Carolina’s Appalachian region.

This year’s awardees are:

The In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Awards support twelve-month, one-on-one apprenticeships that nurture the living traditions of North Carolina’s Appalachian counties. Each apprenticeship pair receives a combined $10,000 award to support their participation in the learning process. The program is a component of the In These Mountains: Central Appalachian Folk Arts and Culture initiative and supported in part by South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization.

“Folklife is a living and dynamic expression of community identity,” said Amy Grossmann, executive director of the North Carolina Folklife Institute. “Through these apprenticeships, we celebrate the artists who carry forward their community’s traditional arts and help ensure their vitality for future generations.”

Meet the 2025 Apprenticeship Pairs

Darren Nicholson & Daniel Ullom – Bluegrass Mandolin and Western North Carolina Music Traditions
Grammy-nominated mandolinist and longtime Balsam Range member Darren Nicholson of Haywood County will mentor Asheville-based musician Daniel Ullom, a professional performer and educator dedicated to the preservation of regional bluegrass. Their apprenticeship will focus on the distinctive Western North Carolina mandolin styles that merge old-time and bluegrass traditions, as well as the professionalism, stagecraft, and community values central to this music. Their work will culminate in a public concert and recording project highlighting the WNC bluegrass sound.

Jenny Pickens & Torre White-Garrison – Traditional Doll Making and Community Textile Arts
Asheville artist, educator, and tradition bearer Jenny Pickens will mentor her daughter, emerging textile artist Torre White-Garrison, in the craft of handcrafted doll making and foundational sewing skills. Their apprenticeship will explore the full process of creating original cloth dolls—from designing patterns and selecting fabrics to machine sewing, hand-stitching, and adding expressive details rooted in personal and community storytelling. Together they will also explore ways this tradition supports healing, creativity, and intergenerational connection. Their work will culminate in a public demonstration and community presentation showcasing their original handmade dolls and the cultural narratives they carry.

Ky’Lee Robison & Janna Girty – Traditional Cherokee Honeysuckle Basketry
Cherokee artist and educator Ky’Lee (Kylee) Robison will mentor emerging basket weaver Janna Girty in the full cycle of Cherokee honeysuckle basketry – from harvesting vines and creating natural dyes to weaving traditional and contemporary forms. Their work will also incorporate Cherokee language learning, connecting the craft to its linguistic and cultural roots. The pair will share their work through a public demonstration and a community workshop.

In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Awards recognize that traditional arts – whether expressed through music, craft, or oral traditions – are central to the vitality of the region’s communities. By supporting mentor artists and apprentices in shared learning, the program helps sustain the living heritage that defines North Carolina’s mountain counties.

The 2025 apprenticeships will take place from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with public presentations held in each pair’s home community at the conclusion of the grant period.

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