Links on Folklife and Culture

If you're interested in folklife, community, and expressive arts, here are some websites you might find interesting. Most of my work is in the western United States, so most of these links are to organizations that serve that region, along with a couple of others that are national models.

Exemplary Programs and Organizations

 A number of American organizations are devoted to the study, protection, and presentation of folklore. Here are a few of my favorites.
Alliance for California Traditional Arts
American Folklife Center
Art of the Rural
Association of American Cultures
Association for Cultural Equity
Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Art
City Lore
Folkstreams
Local Learning: The National Network for Folk Arts in Education 
Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Philadelphia Folklore Project
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Smithsonian Folkways
Tucson Meet Yourself
Veterans History Project 
Western Folklife Center

Government Agencies

Several national, state, and local governments have departments that help to preserve and promote the traditional arts of communities. These arts are vital to healthy communities and therefore of interest to government. Most agencies also give grants in support of the folk arts.
 The Folk and Traditional Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts
 Oregon Folklife Network
 Folklife Program of the Nevada Arts Council
 Folk Arts Program of the North Dakota Council on the Arts
 Folk and Traditional Arts Program of the Wyoming Arts Council

Professional and Academic Folklore Organizations

American Folklore Society
Association of Western States Folklorists
Western States Folklore Society