Area creative folks – living in cities and on farms – are in the state limelight this spring.

“Indiana is home to hundreds of talented artisans and boasts a variety of unique handmade products,” Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman pointed out recently. “Governor Daniels and I are committed to supporting Hoosier entrepreneurs and promoting Indiana-made products.

They are hunting for Hoosiers who create folk art, crafts, pottery, sculptures, glasswork, jewelry, quilts, photographs, musical instruments, toys, clothing and at least 17 other categories. Leaders also want to know about persons who make jams, soaps, sauces, chocolates and many other food items.

Now four agencies – the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Indiana Office of Tourism Development, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Indiana Arts Commission – have joined together to organize the Indiana Artisan Development Project.

“This project aims to support artisans ... by helping get their work or product to market, but we also will support artisans by helping to bring the market to them,” by encouraging locals to create artisan trails like the one that already exists along the Ohio River Scenic Byway, said project manager Eric Freeman by e-mail.

First artisans must be admitted to the project. “There will be two rounds of adjudication, one beginning in May and another beginning in July,” according to Freeman, who is housed in the Indiana Arts Commission office, Indianapolis.

Persons interested in participating should contact him at artisan@iac.in.gov or 317-607-8715 to be added to the database. Those artisans will be notified about the process where works and products are judged by juries in three parts of the state.

“It's important to note that we will develop a workshop for artisans who do not jury into this program the first time,” the manager said. “One goal of the program, for artisans who need it, is to provide education that helps a new or young artisan develop the work or product in a way that increases its sales potential. Maybe the need is as simple as more attractive labeling or packaging, or perhaps an artisan needs help with a comprehensive business plan. We will ask artisans what their needs are, identify themes among those needs, then provide workshops around the state that address them.”

There are at least three good reasons to become part of the Indiana Artisan Development Project:

• Grants. “Individual artisan as well as trail development grants will be available by June, and artisans in our database will be notified of the process and criteria,” according to Freeman. “Grants likely will be $5,000 to $10,000 “ each and be awarded to five or six applicants this first year.

He is hoping locals will develop routes that draw tourists. “The goal of this program is to assure that some of the stops on the trails are artisan workshops, studios and markets.”

• Retail sites. “We're working with the Indiana State Museum and through it the state historic sites that have gift shops,” Freeman said. “We also intend to work with the state park inns. Many already have Indiana-made gifts in their shops, and this project can become a source for more and for a greater variety.

“We also have been approached by several retailers interested in creating, or expanding, areas in their shops that focus on locally made works and products. And we're continuing to look for more .... Communities with empty storefronts, with owners interested in supporting local artisans, could very well leverage this program to create a shop with considerable appeal.”

• Other opportunities. Artisans also will have access to Internet sales opportunities via the program Web site and online directory, and trade shows targeting retailers interested in purchasing wholesale products, Skillman said. Collaborative efforts will promote the Indiana brand, future trails and stories of the artisans themselves.

Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com. To comment on stories, visit batesvilleheraldtribune.com.