Kentucky Folklife Program

Call Directions Website

Kentucky Folklife Program Documenting, presenting and conserving the diverse traditional culture and heritage of the Commonweal

For over 25 years the Kentucky Folklife Program (KFP) has been dedicated to the mission of documenting, presenting, and conserving the diverse traditional culture and heritage of the Commonwealth. Founded in 1989 as an inter-agency partnership between the Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Arts Council, KFP moved to its current home at Western Kentucky University (WKU) in 2012. Now housed in the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at WKU, KFP is physically located in the Pioneer Log Cabin on WKU’s campus. The Kentucky Folklife Program has remained focused on practical folklife and traditional arts projects as we continue to understand the evolving needs of local constituents throughout Kentucky, those who have a crucial stake in documenting the folk traditions of their regions. With our vantage point at WKU, KFP is always exploring exciting and innovative partnership opportunities with other organizations, universities, and folklife programs throughout the nation. To keep up with the details of our ongoing projects and collaborations visit our blog: www.kentuckyfolklife.org

*** Updated Link *** Submit! Submit! Submit! 🧙🏽‍♀️💫
09/25/2026

*** Updated Link *** Submit! Submit! Submit! 🧙🏽‍♀️💫



It was a lovely Saturday filled with friends, masters, and all things basketmaking 🪢On Saturday, September 19th, 2026, t...
09/21/2026

It was a lovely Saturday filled with friends, masters, and all things basketmaking 🪢

On Saturday, September 19th, 2026, the Kentucky Folklife Program hosted a Basketmaker's Demonstration inside of the Historic Thomas House for the 2026 Horse Cave Heritage Festival. 🎊

For over 20 years, we have presented at the Horse Cave Heritage Festival, and this year was no different. We were honored to have traditional artist demonstrations from the unbelievably talented:

- Charlene Long
- Marsha Holm
- Robert Hutchins
&
- Sam Davis

Thank you all so much for attending such a fun, educational, and impactful session! See you next time 🥳




Who's coming to the Horse Cave Heritage Festival tomorrow?! 🐎The Kentucky Folklife Program will be stationed in the Hist...
09/18/2026

Who's coming to the Horse Cave Heritage Festival tomorrow?! 🐎

The Kentucky Folklife Program will be stationed in the Historic Thomas House from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm CST hosting some incredible basket weavers! 🪢

They will be weaving and demonstrating for the public to view and ask questions. 🙋🏽‍♀️

Can't wait to see you all there! 🎉




The Kentucky Folklife Program in partnership with the Kentucky Arts Council are proud to announce that we are now accept...
09/14/2026

The Kentucky Folklife Program in partnership with the Kentucky Arts Council are proud to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2026 Homer Ledford Award!

The Kentucky Folklife Program, based at Western Kentucky University, 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 thriving in Kentucky today. This award celebrates the legacy and creative industry of traditional stringed instrument makers who are vital to Kentucky musical culture.

Since 2007, the Kentucky Folklife Program’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 by the communities of musicians they serve. This award is given in honor and memory of master luthier, musician, and educator Homer Ledford.

Applications Open today: Monday, September 14th, 2026 at 12:01 a.m. CST

Applications Close: Friday, November 15th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST

There are two different ways you can submit an application:

- The Google Form which can be found in the QR Code in the image, & the link down below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e5E9RMwkk7TDIGltbTgLINZ7X8GJNcnId-qLu9VY03I/edit

OR

- Email us at [email protected] for more steps

We look forward to reading your applications!
Go, Go, Go!

The Kentucky Folklife Program and the Kentucky Folklife Digital Magazine are thrilled to commemorate “America 250” by hi...
06/05/2026

The Kentucky Folklife Program and the Kentucky Folklife Digital Magazine are thrilled to commemorate “America 250” by highlighting the importance of documenting American culture and tradition through "Showcasing American Culture through Creative Nonfiction: America 250 (SACTCN)"! 🖍️

Do you have a cultural documentation project that you have been wanting to share with the public? Perhaps learn how to translate your work into published materials, exhibits, or even multimedia? 🤔

Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, SACTCN is a series of three free virtual workshops that will introduce participants to tools for sharing cultural preservation, folk & traditional artistry, expressive culture and folklife practices through published written/multimedia materials and to venues for publishing, presenting, or promoting those materials. 🎨

Plus, participants will gain the chance to apply for publication with the Fall 2026 Issue of the Kentucky Folklife Digital Magazine. 📖

If you are a Kentuckian, 18 years of age or older, and want to explore different avenues of sharing your cultural work, this workshop is for you! 🌱

Scan the QR Code on our flyer to apply, or follow this link to head to our Google Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfq-NpufVckLAQrZrpWI5OB8BRVjxeux1y9Hfq6uVD_wxJIdg/viewform?usp=header

Deadline to Apply is Monday, July 6th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. ⏰

We hope to see you there! 🥳

Kentucky Folklife Program Folklife Specialist Camille Acosta recently guest lectured in FLK 373 Folklore and the Media, ...
04/21/2026

Kentucky Folklife Program Folklife Specialist Camille Acosta recently guest lectured in FLK 373 Folklore and the Media, sharing her film on La Llorona as a starting point for talking about folklore and film. Camille and the students were equally SO impressed with one another! Thank you, Camille!

WKU Folk Studies and the Kentucky Folklife Program are proud of our recent Collins-Bramham events. 🎙️This included the C...
04/21/2026

WKU Folk Studies and the Kentucky Folklife Program are proud of our recent Collins-Bramham events. 🎙️

This included the Collins-Bramham Public Folklore Workshop led by Ellie Dassler (WKU Folk Studies MA ’21), who recently returned from fieldwork with sled dog veterinarians in Alaska, supported by an Archie Green Fellowship from the American Folklife Center. She discussed her fieldwork as well as lessons about fieldwork in general. 🐶

This also included a roundtable featuring three incredible WKU Folk Studies alumni: Brielle Freeman (Brielle Freeman - folklore minor ’22), Delainey Bowers (MA ’19), & Ellie Dassler (MA ’21), who each described how they found folklore studies and the many ways that their folklore training is important to their current work and careers. 📖

These events were supported by funding from the Bramham/Collins Visual and Performing Guest Artist Endowment. WKU Folk Studies and the KFP appreciate the generous support that makes such programming possible each year, and we thank all the participants and attendees. 🌟

Looking forward to the next one! 🥳





WKU Folk Studies and the Kentucky Folklife Program are excited to present the Collins-Bramham Alumni Roundtable on Tuesd...
04/01/2026

WKU Folk Studies and the Kentucky Folklife Program are excited to present the Collins-Bramham Alumni Roundtable on Tuesday April 7th, 2026, from 11:10 to 12:30 pm CST at the FAC Recital Hall. 🎙️

This roundtable will feature 3 incredible WKU Folk Studies alumni: Brielle Freeman, Delainey Bowers, & Ellie Dassler as they elaborate on how they found folklore studies, their trajectory to their current positions, and how folklore training has contributed to their research, careers, and life. This event is open to the public. 🌟

This Alumni Roundtable is supported each year by funding from the Bramham/Collins Visual and Performing Guest Artist Endowment. The Folk Studies program appreciates the generous support of Drs. Bramham and Collins, which makes it possible to host events highlighting the work of public folklorists. 🎞️

This endowment will also be funding the Collins-Bramham Public Folklore Workshop on Monday April 8th, 2026, an event for students interested in ethnographic fieldwork and public folklore led by Ellie Dassler. 🌈

We hope to see you there! 📚

A massive thank you to the Kentucky Arts Council for such a brilliant weekend at the 2026 Kentucky Crafted Market! 🎨We h...
03/11/2026

A massive thank you to the Kentucky Arts Council for such a brilliant weekend at the 2026 Kentucky Crafted Market! 🎨

We had the pleasure of hosting The Folklife Zone, with our dear friends Glespie Ray Deweese (former Homer Ledford Award winner) & Graham Hudspeth as they honored Glespie Guitars and shared musical stories with the public (with extra special guest starts Gina & Martha!) 🎸

Thank you KAC for helping us spread the joy of the Southcentral Kentucky musical landscape, and don't forget to come on down to the Kentucky Museum to watch our Sonic Landscape exhibit in action! 🎻

See you next year crafters 🌈


What a brilliant night telling the story of Jonesville. 🌼Thank you WKU Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice ...
03/05/2026

What a brilliant night telling the story of Jonesville. 🌼

Thank you WKU Department of Society, Culture, Crime, & Justice Studies and WKU PBS | WKU Public Media for making our Jonesville: When Sunflowers Fall screening a reality. Thank you all for coming out and asking such fantastic, thought provoking questions. 🌟

We hope to see you again soon! 🎥




Address

1906 College Heights Boulevard
Bowling Green, KY
42101

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+12707454133

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kentucky Folklife Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share