Carry on the legacy.
Study the craft.

The TCAA Fellowship is awarded annually to a craftsperson who is passionately committed to pursuing excellence in Bit and Spur Making, Silversmithing, Saddlemaking or Rawhide Braiding.

The Fellowship Award covers travel and tuition valued up to $15,000 for mentorship over the course of a year.

To apply for the TCAA Fellowship please submit a detailed bio including an essay outlining your experience, career path and goals. Please include a portfolio of photographs of your work to date. These photographs should be of a sufficient size and quality as to allow for a fair and adequate evaluation of the subject.

Should an application not find success, we encourage you to apply again.

Mail to:

Beau Compton, PO Box 221, 4156 Davis Ranch Rd, Tombstone Arizona, USA. 85638

Direct questions to:

Previous winners:

In honor of his late mother Mrs. Tena Willemsma, Saddlemaker John Willemsma created the Mom’s Scholarship to help emerging craftswomen develop and improve their abilities in one of the four TCAA disciplines: Rawhide Braiding, Saddlemaking, Silversmithing, or Bit and Spur Making.

Recipients are awarded with $3,000 to cover tuition and travel for a mentorship with a master. The applicant must aspire to a full-time career working in her craft to be eligible.

Tena Willemsma was a woman who is and will be remembered for her ability to inspire others while living an exemplary life with strength and grace. She immigrated to the United States in 1956 from Holland, raised six children, and worked hard to receive her GED at age 52. Two years later, she concluded her education and received her certification as an LPN. For the next 20 years Tena worked nights as a registered nurse, finally retiring at the age of 74.

Tena Willemsma was determined and demonstrated tenacity, strength of character, and unwavering dedication to her family and her work.

John along with the TCAA continue to believe that these qualities are as essential today as they were 100 years ago. The TCAA is very grateful to the Willemsma’s for sharing the empowering story of their mother, while providing the resources to promote and encourage a craftswoman to develop and improve in her chosen trade.

To apply for the Moms Scholarship please provide a detailed written bio along with 4 good quality photographs of your best work.

Mail to:

John Willemsma, 535 Airway Drive, Westcliffe, CO 81252, USA,
1 (405) 282-5336

Previous recipients:

Jodi Brown (Silversmith), Justine Nelson (Rawhide Braider), and Anna Sever (Saddle Maker)

Ensuring the knowledge and skill of the cowboy arts is passed onto the next generation, the TCAA began its education program with its inaugural engraving workshop in 2001.

Today, the commitment continues with seminars and forums hosted by National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum & Western Heritage Museum, along with individual mentoring and scholarships.

Highlights:

• Over 2000 students to date
• Over $60,000 in scholarships awarded to 103 craftspeople
• 216 craftspeople have been personally mentored by TCAA members
• 220 craftspeople have attended TCAA workshops
• 45 speakers have given lectures and hosted TCAA seminars on craftsmanship and cowboy culture
• 394 one-of-a-kind pieces have been created by TCAA members for the Annual Exhibition & Sale
• 657 years of combined experience in TCAA members
• Over $330,000 raised for program funding

TCAA members are available for mentoring individuals as well as conducting workshops and lectures. For more information, please contact info@tcowboyarts.org