Kentucky Folklife Program
Documenting, presenting, and conserving the diverse traditional culture and heritage of the Commonwealth.
Documenting, Presenting, and Conserving the diverse traditional culture and heritage of the Commonwealth.
“What we do as folklorists is to help light a candle to illuminate the lives of the 99.99% of the people that are not talked about in the history books.”
— WKU Folk Studies Professor Lynwood Montell
Kyra Higgins, Tammy Clemmons, and Bugz pose during the Community Scholars Pilot Program; Summer 2023 
African-American Museum Board Members proudly cut the ribbon to announce the grand re-opening of the building; Summer 2023 
Folklorist Lamont Jack-Pearley facilitates a narrative stage on the power of African-American Music; August 2023 
Current Folklife Specialist Camille Maria Acosta speaks with Leyda Becker on the necessity of Hispanic voices in Academia; October 2023 
Venezuelan/Appalachian award-winning duo “Larry & Joe” conduct a free public workshop at WKU; August 2023 
Musician and Wood-Worker Mark Whitley smiles while conducting an interview for the Sonic Music Legacy Exhibit; Summer 2023 
MA in Folk Studies Graduate Kayt Novak poses with her proud parents; May 2023 
Former Folklife Specialist Joel Chapman facilitates a Narrative Stage 
Brent Björkman conducts an interview with Marc Owens, well-known music producers 
White-Oak Basket Maker Beth Hester leads a basket-making workshop
~ Who We Are ~
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.
White-Oak Basket Maker Leonna Waddell
Las Damas Dance Group
Wood Carver Willie Rascoe
~ What We Do ~
Documenting, Presenting, and Conserving the diverse voices of Kentucky communities is what the KFP prides itself in. Each year, the KFP crafts programming events that amplify the traditions, narratives, and experiences of the Kentucky commonwealth in ways that highlight cultural visibility. Some of the events spearheaded by the KFP in 2023 include The Jonesville Community Symposium, The White Oak Basket Gathering Workshop, and Tejido por la Historia, Sobrevivido de Corazón – Woven by Story, Survived by Heart (A Hispanic Heritage celebration). Every event organized/aided by the KFP aims to increase inclusion and accessibility by helping underserved communities share their traditions and paving ways in which the public can broaden their knowledge.
Musical Legacy Exhibit
This exhibit is dedicated to conveying the ideas that people in Southcentral Kentucky have known for a long time: that musicians, their appreciators, and promoters have a long-held tradition of musical excellence that continues to this day. Gain a first-hand understanding of the specific artistic values that define Southcentral Kentucky music.
Community Scholars Program
The Community Scholars Program is a free educational outreach program of the Kentucky Folklife Program at Western Kentucky University. Working with a local partner, the program introduces participants to the techniques of documenting, interpreting and presenting their unique local cultural resources and traditional art forms, whether through exhibits, festivals, blogs, etc.
Visit Our Community Scholars Webpage
READ OUR LATEST BLOG POSTS:
Kentucky Folklife Digital Magazine
Thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Kentucky Folklife Digital Magazine is proudly housed under the KFP and Edited by Delainey Bowers. Kentucky Folklife is a multimedia, digital publication dedicated to highlighting what we call “folklife,” or diverse expressive cultures, across the Commonwealth.
Kentucky Folklife Program 