The Louisiana Folklife Program, within the Division of the Arts, is designed to identify, document, conserve, and present the folk cultural resources of Louisiana. Folklife includes living traditions learned informally over time within ethnic, regional, occupational, and family groups. The Louisiana Folklife Commission, a 22-member body is appointed by the Governor to address the special needs of Louisiana's traditional communities and advise the Folklife Program. It is important to understand certain defining terms to appreciate and understand the richness of folklife. We invite you to visit the Key Folklife Definitions page to develop a sound basis for your exploration of Louisiana folk culture. The Folklife Program manages the Division of the Arts Folklife grants and initiates projects or collaborates with other organizations to serve the folklife community in Louisiana. The Program provides technical assistance for Planning Folklife Projects. The Folklife Program has archived its project files at Louisiana State University Library's Special Collections: Folklife Program Special Collection. Maida Owens is the director of the Louisiana Folklife Program. Information about her and the many other people who assisted in planning and implementing this program can be found in the Credits. We welcome your comments and ideas, and if you'd like to link your site to ours, we'd like that, too. Please go to Contact Us/Link to Us.

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 © 1999-2012 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.la.gov.