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The BlueMoon
is published bi-monthly by the Kentucky Arts Council. Please send comments,
questions and information to The Blue Moon, Kentucky Arts Council, Old
Capitol Annex, 300 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601-1980 or call 502/564-3757V/TDD
Toll Free: 1-888-833-2787
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This new year finds the Kentucky Folklife Program busier than ever. From a statewide folklife conference this spring to an invigorated folklife festival next fall, the KFP continues with its mission to document, conserve and present the folklife of the Commonwealth. The following are several important events in the making. Folklife Conference: March 14th-15th 2003 In response to this growing interest, the Kentucky Folklife Program and the Program in Folk Studies at Western Kentucky University are working together to plan a folklife conference on March 14th - 15th 2003. This conference, to be held in Bowling Green, will include a number of workshops, presentations, panels and discussions centering on topics such as:
An additional purpose of this conference will be to explore how the formation of a state folklife association might benefit all these different groups by offering opportunities to share knowledge and resources and develop projects about local cultural resources. Through this conference, KFP and the Folk Studies Program at WKU hope to bring together a wide range of individuals from around the state and region interested in all aspects of folklife. For more information about how you can participate in this groundbreaking folklife event please contact the Kentucky Folklife Program through the contact information listed below. Folklife at The Market 2003Once again Kentucky Crafted: The Market will be the site of the KFP’s first promotional effort for the upcoming Kentucky Folklife Festival. On the Market’s Cultural Stage the Kentucky Folklife Program will highlight a number of traditional artists who are part of our Tour of Kentucky Folk Music Roster. Join us on Sunday, March 2nd at the Kentucky State Fair Grounds as we present bluegrass band No Tools Loaned, a capella gospel group the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood, Eastern Kentucky duo Zoe Speaks and Western Kentucky thumbpicking guitarists Eddie Pennington and Steve Rector. Update: Kentucky Folklife Festival 2003A one-year hiatus from festival production has allowed us to take a full look at all aspects of the Kentucky Folklife Festival. Beginning last winter the KFP organized a series of advisory committees to address various key issues surrounding our program’s largest educational event. This was followed by a recent visit to our office by two folklife festival consultants who shared their vast experience and knowledge with KFP staff and community advisory teams. Mike Luster (Louisiana Folklife Festival) and Marsha MacDowell (Great Lakes Folklife Festival, Michigan) helped us assess our work over the past five years and plan for the future. It was their general consensus that our efforts to this point have been a great success. As we plan the 2003 Kentucky Folklife Festival we will continue the elements that have made the festival so successful, such as its home in the Capitol city and our emphasis on educating Kentuckians, young and old, about folklife in everyday life. We will also offer exciting changes, such as shifting the site to include more of downtown Frankfort and increasing our efforts to market the festival in all corners of the state. Make plans now to attend the Kentucky Folklife Festival—YOUR state folklife festival—on September 25-27, 2003! Folk Arts Granting Deadlines Approach!Last year, with the financial support of the KAC, the folklife program was able to fund over 25 Folk Arts Project, Tour of Kentucky Folk Music, and Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants. Below are brief overviews of the granting categories and examples of past grant projects. Please note the addition of an Intent to Apply deadline for the Folk Art Project and Tour of Kentucky Folk Music programs this year.
Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants: These grants encourage the perpetuation of Kentucky’s living traditions by enabling a master artist to share his/her knowledge and skills with a less experienced artist. This grant is intended to provide an opportunity for the apprentice to advance his or her skills and is not intended for training at a beginner or intermediate level. Prospective master and apprentice artists must apply as partners. Recent masters include old-time fiddler J.P. Fraley, white oak basketmaker Clevie Childress and American Indian storyteller Dorothy Dukepoo. Funds in this category are used to provide the master artist with a stipend and cover travel expenses for up to one year of study. Deadline: March 31st, 2003. Please contact any of our staff or your local KAC Circuit Rider for more details on how you can take advantage of these important granting opportunities. Artist-in-Residence Program: The Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program places traditional artists or (in this case) folklorists in school residencies ranging in length from 20 days to 36 or 48 days. After completing a survey of the region’s folklife, folklorists bring local artists into the classroom where students actively explore their heritage and culture. AIR grants cover up to one-half of the artist or folklorist’s fees and range from approximately $2,325 to $5,760, depending on the length of the residency. Deadline: January 22. This date is coming up very soon!!Folk Art Project Grants: Project grants help community organizations identify, document, conserve, and/or present traditional cultures. Grants can support a wide range of activities including, but not limited to, regional surveys, festivals, concerts, tours, conferences, exhibits, community residencies, teacher training, and audio and video recordings. Successful past projects have included bringing folk artists and musicians into schools, student-directed oral histories of community topics, regional traditional arts exchanges, and many many more! The KAC funds up to half of the total project cost and requires a one-to-one match. Intent to Apply Due March 1st 2003 - Deadline: March 31st, 2003. Tour of Kentucky Folk Music Grants: These grants assist communities in their efforts to present live performances by regional folk musicians. Examples of successful projects in this category include the creation of a new concert event featuring roster folk musicians and infusing traditional musicians into a local festival already in existence. Performances may focus on a particular region of the state, a specific genre of music (i.e. gospel, blues, fiddle) or another innovative theme. Performing artists are generally chosen from the Tour of Kentucky Folk Music roster, but the use of local folk musicians can also be arranged. The KAC provides matching funds to help cover the musicians’ fees. Intent to Apply Due March 1st 2003 - Deadline: March 31st, 2003. Remembering Irene Moore
Over the years the KFP staff has had the great honor of not only working with but also getting to know many Kentucky folk artists. This past fall KFP was saddened to learn of the death of one such folk artist, Irene Moore. Ms. Moore took part in all five Kentucky Folklife Festivals, where she shared her traditions and talents with countless visitors. A talented and esteemed canner and quilter well known throughout her community of Grey Hawk, Kentucky, Irene helped to teach festivalgoers to value the art in our everyday lives. Ms. Moore will be sorely missed by our program and by all who knew her. Friends of the Festival ListHave you ever wanted to learn more about the upcoming Kentucky Folklife Festival but did not know where to turn? Are you wondering what traditions will be highlighted? what kinds of music you will get to hear? how you can give feedback to the KFP about their fall festival? We have an answer to your questions: the Friends of the Festival electronic distribution list. If you would like to be the first to receive festival updates, such as where the “prime” volunteer opportunities on the festival site will be this year, or simply become one of the “insiders” of late breaking festival news, then join our new service! It is free to you by contacting KFP folklife specialist Mark Brown Contact the Folklife Staff:
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Articles
During
our outreach efforts over the years the KFP has recognized a growing interest
in folklife. Programs such as the VIP program and our work with teachers
and folklorists in the schools has demonstrated that there are many groups
of people interested in celebrating and sharing distinct regional traditions.
