Missouri Folk Arts Program

10/21/2026

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Missouri Folklore Society kicks off in Springfield, Mo., soon. Check out the rich schedule of presentations by a who's who of Missouri Folklore via panels, keynotes, a plenary panel, Veterans' Writing Workshop, performances, readings, and fieldtrips.

Events launch on Friday, November 6, at 9:00 a.m. and extend through Saturday, November 7, at 6:30 p.m. Attendees may also choose to extend Saturday's events with a ticketed concert at the The Shoe Tree Listening Room at Arrow Creative Reuse.

Learn more about the registration fees, presenters, and schedule at the link below.

We have the full conference program and schedule available now! Take a look, start planning and get ready for a great conference! Thanks to all of our presenters, and to everyone who is helping to make this happen.

Conference Program & Presentation Handlist:
https://missourifolkloresociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MFS-Conference-Program-2026.pdf

Conference Schedule:
https://missourifolkloresociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-MFS-Schedule.pdf

10/19/2026

Great episode (aren't they all?) from Ozarkian Folk Chronicles about the Galbraith family's old-time music traditions.

The late Art Galbraith mentored two apprentices (Justin Bertholdie, in 1988 and 1989, and Barbara Duncan in 1990) in Missouri's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

It's great to hear stories and tunes that have passed down within his own family, too.

Episode 142 has posted!

Episode 142: From Art Galbraith to Mark Galbraith to Luke Cormier: An Ozarks Musical Tradition Lives On!

The Chronicles returns to the dining room of Mark Galbraith to hear traditional stories from the Galbraith family history in Springfield to the fiddling of his father, Art Galbraith, with Gordon McCann to the Emmanuel Wood Ozark Opry. Luke Cormier joins his grandfather in telling the tales but also in playing songs that his own great-grandfather, Art Galbraith, recorded. Stories and music like this are the lifeblood of the Ozarkian Folk Chronicles, and we hope you'll join us to celebrate an Ozarks family tradition!

Here is the download link:
https://tinyurl.com/wnewjx24
Or:
https://open.acast.com/public/streams/663b9ce758fda10012c1bdc3/episodes/6ac662525f788808a729ce0c.mp3
Here is the website link:
https://tinyurl.com/2w3z4bhn
Or:
https://shows.acast.com/ozarkian-folk-chronicles/episodes/episode-142-from-art-galbraith-to-mark-galbraith-to-luke-cor

You can find this episode and ALL previous episodes at ozarkianfolkchronicles.com!

For updates and new releases information follow Ozarkian Folk Chronicles Podcast and the discussion group page - Ozarkian Folk Chronicles

10/16/2026

Our staff enjoyed this The State Historical Society of Missouri webinar in September; now it's available to watch on demand.

SHSMO Senior Archivist Hayley Frizzle-Green presented "Asphalt to Archives webinar: From Necessity to Novelty - Ozarks Handicrafts and Roadside Souvenirs." During her presentation, she explored traditional regional crafts that were created and marketed by Ozarkers for travelers along Route 66.

Learn about Basketville, Artful Woodwork, Delight Novelty Works, and more!

Find the link in the first comment below!

Photo courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri. Caption: "Henry J. Childers, with his children helping a customer at Artful Woodwork. Left to right: Henry Childers, Mr. Chubb, and Raymond Childers (back row), Bonnie, Bernice, and Elbert Childers (front row)."

10/13/2026

Another can't miss event . . .

This Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, enjoy the 50th Annual Hannibal Folklife Festival! [Check the first comment for a link to the online program.]

The schedule is full of performances, demonstrations, family activities, food, beverages, and commemorative merchandise to celebrate the milestone.

Via the Show Me Folk Initiative (SMF), Missouri Folk Arts is happy to support performances by old-time fiddler John P. Williams & Friends and Hannibal's own Angela J. Williams. SMF is made possible with Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Angela tells stories on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the Boyhood Home Stage on Hill Street. John & Friends perform on Sunday at 12 noon and 2:00 p.m. also at the Boyhood Home Stage!

Finally, look for our friend and festival exhibitor T.J. Southard of Fresh Sawdust. T.J. will be selling his woodwork in booth 103 on Main Street between Bird and Center, just across from the Hannibal Arts Council's Drink Booths. Fresh Sawdust is the maker of Missouri Folk Arts' annual Living Traditions Fellow plaques.

10/12/2026

West Plains Ozark Heritage Festival is this Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17. As always, or perhaps more than always, the lineup of artists is fantastic!

Which parts of the Ozark Heritage Festival are you most looking forward to?

10/08/2026

Our director Lisa Higgins joined folk arts managers from across the U. S. In Washington DC this week for a series of professional development workshops coordinated by National Endowment for the Arts, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies: NASAA, and the American Folklore Society.

Day One featured a trip to visit colleagues at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage—producers of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. After lunch, the cohort headed to the American Folklife Center at The Library of Congress to meet with staff and view the exhibit commemorating AFC’s 50th anniversary.

Lisa found a little bit of Missouri in both locations. Captions on individual photos.

10/03/2026

John P. Williams and Robert Mackey played a fine set of old-time tunes during Missouri State Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration of the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site!

10/03/2026

2026 Living Traditions Fellow Mary Barile demonstrated traditional rug hooking with members of the Big Muddy Rug Guild today during the Missouri State Museum’s 50th anniversary celebration of the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.

She also accepted her custom plaque created by Fresh Sawdust!

Congratulations to Mary and big thanks for her contributions to the traditional arts and Show Me state.

Living Traditions Fellowships are made possible with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, Missouri Arts Council, and with the support of the Museum of Art & Archaeology.

09/26/2026

Rug Hooking drop-in with Christina Edholm! Come join us in the research room within the museum of art and archaeology!