“What I value most about the Kentucky Folklife Program is the way that it engages diverse folk groups of Kentucky in telling their own stories, conserving and sharing their own traditions in a way that feels authentic and respectful. This approach promotes cultural pride and deepens cross-cultural understanding. I love using this method when working with young people. I love that spark in their eyes when they realize that they themselves belong to folk groups with uniquely wonderful traditions. When students begin to share their stories with classmates, this sense of self-worth allows them to more readily embrace and value the diverse backgrounds of their fellow students.”
Judy Sizemore, KFP Partner and Community Scholars Facilitator ~ 2024
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. Equipment for oral interviews is available for loan for the duration of the program. The program consist of five sessions on alternate Saturdays from 1:00-4:00 PM beginning April 13 with a final sixth session on June 29. Three sessions will be in person in Hazard; three sessions will be virtual
Community Scholars Program 2024
The year’s Community Scholars Program will take place in Hazard, Kentucky (Hybrid). Our partners will be Delainey Bowers of the Kentucky Folklife Magazine & Emily Hudson of the Southeast Kentucky African-American Museum & Cultural Center
Dates for this year’s Community Scholars Program are as follows:
- April 13, 1:00-4:00 PM in person at The Arts Alliance, 612 Main St., Hazard
- April 27: 1:00-4:00 PM Virtual
- May 11 1:00-4:00 PM in person at Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Conference Room, 420 Main St., Hazard
- May 25, 1:00-4:00 PM Virtual
- June 8: 1:00-4:00 PM Virtual
- June 29, 1:00-4:00 PM in person at Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Conference Room, 420 Main St., Hazard
- (Make up sessions available in the event of emergency)
Are you interested in applying for this year’s program?
Fill out the Preliminary Application Found in the Google Form Link Below!:
Kentucky Folklife Program 