by Leda Hartman Stepping is a performance and movement style popularized a century ago by African American fraternities and sororities. Stepping has a strong link to the past, with roots that go all the way back to Africa. But it also has a vibrant future. These days, younger kids of all races are doing it…. Read More →
Blue Ridge Parkway
Although it is a scenic byway with plenty of natural attractions, the Blue Ridge Parkway also has a mission to interpret the culture of the region. Signage, exhibits, and restored historic structures help educate visitors about the history and culture of Appalachia. Of the Parkway’s 469 miles, more than half are located in North Carolina…. Read More →
Center for Appalachian Studies
The Center for Appalachian Studies, a department of the College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University, was established in 1978 to coordinate and promote curriculum offerings, public programs, and research activities in the Appalachian region. Built on the work of generations of Appalachian scholars, including folklorists Amos Abrams and Cratis Williams, the Center… Read More →
Center For Documentary Studies
The Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) is an interdisciplinary educational organization affiliated with Duke University. It is dedicated to advancing documentary work that combines experience and creativity with education and community life. Founded in 1989, CDS connects the arts and humanities to fieldwork, drawing on photography, filmmaking, oral history, folklore, and writing as catalysts for… Read More →
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
Created in 1992, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum is dedicated to documenting, preserving, and presenting the coastal community traditions of the Core Sound area. It represents a diverse community of rural fishermen, hunters, carvers, boat builders and their families, including European American and African American groups that settled North Carolina’s Outer Banks and sound-side villages… Read More →
Curriculum in Folklore at UNC
Established in 1940, the Curriculum in folklore at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill was the nation’s first academic graduate program in folklore. Offering a range of both graduate and undergraduate courses, the Curriculum has been instrumental in establishing a place for folklore studies in higher education across North Carolina, in training many… Read More →
East Carolina University’s Folklore Archive
East Carolina University Folklore Archive (ECUFA) is a university-based regional folklife collection. Established in 1968 with the institution of a course in American folklore in the English Department, ECUFA now holds approximately 8,000 manuscript collections of field documentation in addition to approximately 75,000 separately recorded items of primarily verbal lore. Hundreds of video and audiotapes,… Read More →
El Pueblo, Inc.
El Pueblo, Inc. is a North Carolina non-profit statewide advocacy and policy organization dedicated to strengthening the Latino community. This mission is accomplished through leadership development, education, and promotion of cross-cultural understanding in partnerships at the local state, and national levels. The organization began in 1994 when it organized the first Latin American cultural festival… Read More →
Folk Heritage Committee
The Folk Heritage Committee is a special committee of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and is made up of dedicated individuals charged with the mission of preserving and presenting the music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachians for entertainment and education. The Folk Heritage Committee’s purpose is to produce two events: Mountain Dance… Read More →
Folklife Program, North Carolina Arts Council
The Folklife Program of the North Carolina Arts Council promotes public knowledge and appreciation of the state’s cultural traditions. Four strategies have evolved to achieve this goal: planning and presenting special projects; assisting the field through a grants program; conducting fieldwork; and maintaining n archive of documentary materials and resources. Beginning in 1977, when George… Read More →