NATIONWIDE FOLKLIFE PROGRAMS STUDY: UNDERSTANDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FIELD IN 2015-2016

Abstract

Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council, conducted an operational survey of the various folklife programs and centers in each state during late winter, 2015, and early spring, 2016. This project was supported in part by generous funding from the American Folklore Society (AFS) so that its findings could be made accessible to the field of folklore studies and public folklore as a whole. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the current infrastructure of the folklife field at the state level. In particular, the study aimed to produce a report that brings together information on the following aspects of each state’s folklife program: • Funding structure • Budget and staff size • Physical and operational structure • Activities, outreach, and programming Due to the fact that folklife programs nationwide operate in a variety of ways, such as through being based in arts agencies, or at universities, a well as through other non-profit organizations, compiling this information into one report should greatly benefit the field as a whole. Moreover, this knowledge will help to highlight particular programs as models for others, further strengthening the field and its interconnectedness. After the data collection period, the findings were complied into this final report and submitted to Maryland Traditions and AFS to be shared with its professional circles, members, and constituents