April 21-23, 2016

The Rawhide Rendezvous brought together 20 braiders from around the state for a weekend that featured both professional development and technique workshops. Cindy Kittredge, who created the Artrepreneurship Program for the Montana Arts Council, presented her “Marketing Strategies for the Creative Hand” workshop that included strategies for arriving at a fair price, the development of a strong product line, branding and the story behind the brand, finding customers, and building promotional approaches that lead to sales. The second day involved two skill-building workshops led by master braiders and included spinning a rope from rawhide and the hot water scalding method to dehair and prepare a hide. Produced by the Folk & Traditional Arts Program at the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the Salmon Arts Council, and the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, & Educational Center, which hosted the event.

‒ Steven Hatcher, Folk & Traditional Arts Director