Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Folklorists, Community Scholars, folk artists, tradition bearers and other folklife enthusiasts are invited to the Kentucky Folklife Network Gathering at the 2019 Kentucky Crafted Market at the Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena. Participants from all over Kentucky will come together in Lexington to develop plans for a Kentucky Folklife Network & Digital Magazine, coordinated by the Kentucky Folklife Program with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council and Western Kentucky University Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology.

The Kentucky Folklife Network & Digital Magazine is a new initiative of the Kentucky Folklife Program. The project aims to connect folklorists, Community Scholars, cultural workers, and folk arts-related organizations across the state as a way to share work and provide opportunities for professional development, and to generate connections, avenues of support, and potential partnerships. The work of the Kentucky Folklife Network will be showcased in a digital magazine hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program that will welcome contributions from network members, folklorists, students, Community Scholars, and community partners throughout Kentucky.

The Folklife Network Gathering will take place Saturday, March 16, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Eastern time in a private meeting room inside Alltech Arena. Registered attendees will receive free admission to the Kentucky Crafted Market ($8 value) and will hear about recent projects by Kentucky Folklorists and Community Scholars. Then, the main purpose of this gathering will be for participants to learn about plans for the Kentucky Folklife Network & Digital Magazine, and then to share ideas and add to the discussion of what they want to see when the project launches in 2020.

After the meeting, participants can purchase lunch from a food truck on the arena floor, listen to live music on the Kentucky Stage, meet outstanding basket makers and watch them at work in the Woven Treasures interactive folk arts area, and witness the Kentucky Folklife Program’s presentation of the Homer Ledford Award to guitar maker Ray Deweese.

All participants will be encouraged to stay in touch after the Gathering to share follow-up thoughts about the emerging Kentucky Folklife Network & Digital Magazine.

To register for the gathering, please visit the Kentucky Folklife Program’s website: https://kentuckyfolklife.org.

Contact Nicole Musgrave at nicole.p.musgrave@gmail.com for more information.