Scholarship & Mentor Program
The Annual DIY Festival and Holiday Market nourishes Utah-based artisans, creatives and small business owners in Utah by promoting DIY culture and providing them with opportunities to attract new customers, promote their work to new audiences and grow their sales. Craft Lake City wants to ensure that these opportunities are available to all Utah communities.
In support of this goal, Craft Lake City has designed the Scholarship & Mentor Program to benefit first-time exhibitors at DIY Fest or Holiday Market in the artisan, vintage and craft food categories. The program includes business training, networking opportunities, waived booth fees and one-on-one mentorship before, during and after the Annual Craft Lake City Event.
Scholarship Types
These scholarship opportunities are open to Utah-based artisans who are first-time participants at both the Annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market and DIY Festival. To apply, you must submit a general Holiday Market application and submit one of the three scholarship applications below by September 17, 2025. For more details on eligibility, please see the “Eligibility” section below.
LGBTQ+ Scholarship
The LGBTQ+ scholarship is open to all local makers, with an emphasis on individuals who either identify as LGBTQ+, an ally or their artistic expression elevates the voices of those in the LGBTQ+ community.
*Sponsored by Project Rainbow
ArtAbility Scholarship
The ArtAbility scholarship is open to all local makers, with an emphasis on individuals who either identify with having a disability, an ally or their artistic expression elevates the voices of the disabled community.
Artisan Scholarship
The Artisan Scholarship is open to all local makers, with an emphasis on emerging artisans who fall below the 50% Area Median Income Bracket for their county of residence.
Interested in sponsoring a scholarship? Email sponsorships@craftlakecity.com to learn more!
Program Benefits
- Waived booth fees: Participants receive booth fee waivers to exhibit at the Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival (up to a 10’x10′ size) or Holiday Market (up to a 5’x10′ size).
- Small business training: Craft Lake City facilitates business training for participants on subjects such as: booth design, merchandising concepts, sales & lead generation, promotion, basic principles and techniques for small business finances.
- Networking Opportunities: Craft Lake City provides valuable chances to connect, share ideas and build relationships.
- Mentorship: Provided by seasoned makers with a history of participation in the Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival/Holiday Market, mentors help prepare scholars to exhibit at the Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival/Holiday Market.
Qualifications
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Must be first-time participant at both the Annual Craft Lake City Holiday Market and the Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival.
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Must complete an official Holiday Market application by the September 17, 2025 deadline (accessible here)
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Must also be juried into the event by a panel of anonymous third-party jurors based on the quality of their work.
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Must reside in Utah.
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Each individual may only apply for one of the three available scholarships: ArtAbility, Artisan or LGBTQ+ Scholarship. We highly recommend taking a look at all three and applying for the one that you feel is the most applicable to you, all scholarship benefits are the same.
**Selected recipients must commit to being an active and engaged participant in all associated programs, training sessions and requirements that are designed to prepare scholars to exhibit at the Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival/Holiday Market in order to get the most out of the program.
Are you interested in sponsoring a scholarship? Email sponsorships@craftlakecity.com to learn more!
Application Process
- Complete both the general Holiday Market Exhibitor Application AND the scholarship application by September 17, 2025.
- Eligible applicants will be asked to participate in a short interview. Please keep an eye on your email and texts in the coming weeks as we will be reaching out to schedule an interview with all eligible scholarship candidates.
- Attend an Application Assistance Day event for support and free product photos.
- Scholarship recipients announced on early-mid October, 2025 for Holiday Market.
Quotes from Past Participants
Artisan Scholar Quotes
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity. It really has given me a lot of confidence as an artist and I want to do more events now.”
“The Craft Lake City Artisan Scholarship not only gave me a great deal of knowledge towards how to be successful, but it also helped me create valuable connections to the local art scene in Utah. I gained confidence while in the program, particularly through confirmation that I was working hard and heading in the right direction.”
“I am confident now as I do more events like Craft Lake City [DIY Fest]. The Scholar Program honestly was so beneficial for me. It is intimidating to vend your first art festival and this program made it less scary.”
Artisan Mentor Quotes
“I’m proud to be a mentor in Craft Lake City’s Community Inclusion Program, helping give local artisans tools and tricks to help them succeed in their craft. This program is building a strong artist culture here in Salt Lake, one that I’m honored to be a part of.”
“I’m in a place in my career where I prefer helping other people more than I like promoting myself. It makes me feel useful. The experience was very enjoyable”
“I loved this program! I loved sharing what I know from experience and I loved showing them what this program can provide for their future.“