Checklist for Folklife Project Planning Goals/Mission Statement Project topic Why do this project? Resulting Products Audience Preliminary Research Research existing sources Community members/local experts to be consulted for background With who should project be cleared? Identify potential partners. Personnel Who will be involved? What tasks will they do? Is any expertise lacking? Project Scope Define boundaries of project: Geographic area Community Historical period of study Specific topics Specific genres Duration of project Documentation Methods Sound recording Interviews Processes/performances Videotaping Interviews Processes/performances Photography (original) Black and white Color slides Photography (copy originals) Black and white Color slides Measured drawings of large objects -- buildings, boats, etc. Collecting objects Other Processing and Preserving Materials Where will materials be stored? How stored? How processed? By whom? Equipment and Supplies List equipment/supplies you already have and those you must acquire Equipment Tape recorder Microphone Video recorder Camera(s)/lenses/flash Tripod Copystand/lights Computer/laptop/printer Transcribing machine Other equipment Supplies Audiotapes Videotapes Batteries Cables and adapters Film (various) Diskettes Archiving supplies: extra tapes for duplicates tape storage photo storage notes/log/transcript storage Timetable Time varies, depending on: Familiarity with area Scope Product Personnel resources Deadline imposed by outside entity Fact: 6 hours transcribing per 1 hour interview Fact: Everything takes longer than you think it will Budget Consider all costs, e.g.: Transportation Photocopying/fax Postage Telephone Equipment/supplies Salaries Courtesy prints/tapes Costs associated with product Funding Identify funding sources Apply for funding Locate in-kind support Excerpted from: Eff, Elaine, (ed.). "You should have been here yesterday": A Guide to Cultural Documentation in Maryland. Crownsville, MD: The Maryland Historical Trust Press, 1995, pp. 28-33. (To order, make checks payable to MHT Press and send to Maryland Historical Trust Press, PO Box 500, Crownsville, MD 21032. $10 plus $2.50 postage and handling, 410/514-7600).

Folklife in Louisiana Home | Living Traditions Home | Louisiana Voices: Educator's Guide Overview of Louisiana's Traditional Cultures | Folklife Program Introduction | Folklife Update Planning and Funding Folklife Projects | Opportunities for Professional Development Links | Site Map & Search | Credits | Contact Us/Link to Us   Louisiana Division of the Arts | Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism Copyright 1999 Louisiana Division of the Arts, PO Box 44247, Baton Rouge, LA 70804, tel 225-342-8180 Questions about this site? Contact Maida Owens, folklife@crt.state.la.us.