Visit the West Virginia Folklife Program Blog.

The West Virginia Folklife Program is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, presentation, and support of West Virginia’s vibrant cultural heritage and living traditions. West Virginia Folklife is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Folk & Traditional Arts Program. The West Virginia Folklife Program employs the West Virginia state folklorist to carry out this work.

Often defined as the “art of everyday life,” folklife refers to art and culture that is based in and reflective of traditional knowledge and connection to community.

The West Virginia Folklife Program documents expressive traditional forms – the folklife – of West Virginia and aims to advance understanding and appreciation of traditional culture through the development of public programs, publications, and other media.

West Virginia Folklife also seeks to reinforce living cultural traditions by supporting and expanding opportunities for traditional artists, performers, and tradition bearers; assisting communities and community scholars throughout the state in the development of plans and projects to strengthen their own cultural traditions; and contributing and facilitating collaboration among those individuals, organizations, colleges and universities, and state government programs engaged in folklife activities.

Call Jennie Williams at 304.346.8500 or email williams@wvhumanities.org for further information.

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Find more about folklife in West Virginia at e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia

Folklife Legends & Lore Roadside Marker Program

The West Virginia Folklife Legends & Lore Roadside Marker Program, a partnership with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, commemorates West Virginia legends and folklore with roadside markers across the state. Nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and nonprofit educational institutions are eligible to apply.

Folklife Apprenticeship Program

The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers a stipend to West Virginia master traditional artists or tradition bearers working with qualified apprentices on a year-long in-depth apprenticeship in their cultural expression or traditional art form.