Funding for Public Programs in Folk and Traditional Arts: An Extreme Sport

Scholars working in public spheres in Appalachian arts and traditional culture experience challenges and opportunities in the current economic climate. With decreases in funding for public education and the arts, job and industry losses across the region, and pushes for creative approaches to economic development, arts organizations and public folklorists find themselves working harder than ever to advocate for arts funding. Drawing on the perspectives of four experienced public folklorists working in museums, festivals, and arts education, this panel addresses the new economies of traditional arts, frameworks of heritage tourism and the creative economy, and how scholars working in the public sector can be strong advocates for careful and thoughtful programming in the arts, often through effective collaborations between non-profits, government agencies, and academic institutions. Presenters will discuss practical challenges in funding sources and strategies for success, drawing from theoretical frameworks in their disciplines and from their experience building programs for Appalachian Sustainable Development, The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, Create Appalachia, the International Storytelling Center, and The Crooked Road