Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology News
The Kentucky Folklife Program Celebrates the Recipient of the 2025 Homer Ledford Award
- Camille Maria Acosta
- Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025
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The Kentucky Folklife Program is pleased to announce the 2025 winner of the Homer Ledford Award. Based at Western Kentucky University, the KFP has a long history of working with the Kentucky Arts Council to document, present, conserve, and teach the public about the rich heritage of folk and traditional artists flourishing in Kentucky today. The Homer Ledford award celebrates the legacy and creative industry of traditional stringed instrument makers who are vital to Kentucky musical culture, and who keep the music alive. This year, the KFP is proud to honor Arthur Hatfield as the 2025 award winner.
Since 2007, the KFP’s Homer Ledford Award has been given to Kentucky luthiers who have demonstrated outstanding craftsmanship, a sense of mastery in making and setting up instruments for excellent tone and playability, and who have been recognized time and time again by the communities of musicians they serve. This award is given in honor and memory of master luthier, musician, and educator Homer Ledford. Known for his superb craftsmanship, impressive productivity, inspired innovations, generous spirit, and willingness to teach anyone interested in his art, Homer had a profound impact on musical communities throughout Kentucky and far beyond. Arthur Hatfield of Glasgow, Kentucky exemplifies Ledford’s passion in instrument creation and passing on the importance of music and community.
Born and raised in Rocky Hill, Kentucky, Bluegrass was the music score of Hatfield’s life from a very early age. Playing in a plethora of bands at the beginning of his journey, Hatfield is well-versed in fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, and of course, the banjo. Later in life, Hatfield crafted a world in woodworking and cabinetry. However, creating banjos from the Rim to the Peghead has always been Hatfield’s true calling. Today, Hatfield Banjos is the home shop where Hatfield creates his musical masterpieces. Praised by infamous Bluegrass musicians and loyal community members alike, there is no match for Hatfields banjo craftsmanship.
“Arthur Hatfield has been both a revered musician and a celebrated banjo innovator and maker for over 40 years. His instruments are cherished possessions of a wide range of renowned musicians who stand behind (literally) Arthur’s exceptional work” said Brent Björkman, Director of the Kentucky Folklife Program and Kentucky Museum at WKU. “The Kentucky Folklife Program is excited to award this year’s well-deserved honor of its Homer Ledford Award to such a Kentucky treasure.”
Unfortunately, on Friday January 10th, 2025, the beloved Hatfield Banjos shop burned down. No one was harmed in the incident, however, the shop known as a musical landmark for the Glasgow community is no more. In order to assist Arthur in rebuilding his shop a GoFundMe donation page has been established.
The Homer Ledford Award will be presented by the Kentucky Folklife Program, alongside their longtime partner the Kentucky Arts Council on Saturday, March 8th on the Market Stage at the 2025 Kentucky Crafted Market at the Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. This award is sponsored by WKU Folk Studies and the Department of Society, Culture, Crime, and Justice Studies, the Kentucky Arts Council, and the Kentucky Folklife Program.
For more information about the Kentucky Crafted event, visit the Kentucky Arts Council Website here.
Photo courtesy of Mark Brown, Folk & Traditional Arts Director with the Kentucky Arts Council.
-KFP-
Established in 1989, the Kentucky Folklife Program (KFP) is the Commonwealth’s statewide public folklife program, with the mission to document, present, and conserve the diverse traditional cultures and heritage of Kentucky. In 2012, the KFP moved from Frankfort to the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at WKU.
For more information, contact KFP Folklife Specialist Camille Maria Acosta: camille.acosta@wku.edu or KFP director Brent Björkman: brent.bjorkman@wku.edu
-WKU-
Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.
-Kentucky Arts Council-
The mission of the Kentucky Arts Council is to foster environments for the people of Kentucky to value, participate in, and benefit from the arts. The work of the Kentucky Arts Council is focused in five thematic areas:
- Vibrant Communities
- Creative Industry
- Creativity and Innovation
- Entrepreneurship
- Showcasing the Arts
-WKU Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies-
Here, related social science disciplines unite to foster a deeper appreciation of complex issues affecting individuals, communities, and societies. Our department is dedicated to fostering student success through engaging degree programs and experiential learning that lead to meaningful careers. The discoveries and insights of our academic disciplines provide understanding of and solutions to the social, cultural, and biological causes and consequences of human behavior in the past and present. Explore our programs, engage with our applied research opportunities, and contribute to our mission of creating platforms of social engagement where all can flourish.