Kentucky Folklife Program

For over 30 years, the Kentucky Folklife Program has continued with its mission to document, present, and conserve the diverse culture and heritage of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Based at Western Kentucky University, our mission dovetails well with the university’s desire to be leading regional university dedicated to student-centered applied research.  As part of the … Continue reading Western Kentucky University recognizes KFP and Kentucky Museum

  The first episode of Kentucky Tracks is now live! This podcast, created by KFP, is dedicated as a companion to our on-going Kentucky Musical Legacy Project. Over the next few months, we will be releasing episodes to share the stories of local musicians and music fans in Bowling Green. Our first episode is dedicated … Continue reading Kentucky Tracks Episode One Now Live

The Kentucky Folklife Program will be hosting a state-wide meeting for the newly established Kentucky Folklife Network. It will take place in Bowling Green, KY on May 28th and 29th. At the gathering there will be workshops conducted by esteemed colleagues doing inventive fieldwork  and dedicated time to update you about the network as we … Continue reading SAVE THE DATE: Kentucky Folklife Gathering May 28th and 29th

Today was a great day as we sat down with Jeff Sweeney and Matt Pfefferkorn to record one of our initial podcasts for the Kentucky Musical Legacy Project. Together these guys have over 75 years of experience running record stores in Bowling Green. You will have to listen to the episode to hear more! This … Continue reading KFP Begins Recording for our Musical Legacy Podcast Series

On Saturday, September 21st, graduate students, faculty, and staff in the WKU Folk Studies Program and Kentucky Folklife Program partnered to produce the Chattin’ on the Porch stage at the Horse Cave Heritage Festival in Horse Cave, Kentucky. A yearly tradition, this event serves as a key opportunity for Folk Studies students to gain fieldwork … Continue reading Folk Studies and KFP Present at Horse Cave Heritage Festival

  The Kentucky Folklife Program, housed in the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University, has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to support a traveling exhibit and associated programming centered on the musical heritage and culture of South central Kentucky.   Since 1989, the mission of the Kentucky … Continue reading Kentucky Folklife Program Receives NEA grant to Preserve and Share Kentucky Musical Legacies

The Kentucky Folklife Program is happy to welcome Joel Chapman, of Bowling Green, and a native of Indiana, as the new Folklife Specialist beginning August 23, 2019.   Chapman completed his MA in Folk Studies with a Public Folklore concentration at Western Kentucky University in May. While a student, he served as Graduate Assistant to … Continue reading The KFP Welcomes Joel Chapman as Folklife Specialist