The YES! Weekly Blog: Kaitlin Smith

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ArtsGreensboro Presents the 2016 Arts in Business Award to The View on Elm

Owner Becky Causey accepted the award

at Small Business Awards Luncheon

"Greensboro, N.C., May 5, 2016 — Today, ArtsGreensboro—in partnership with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the Greensboro Merchants Association, and the North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center at UNCG—presented the 2016 Arts in Business Award to The View on Elm during the Chamber’s Small Business Awards Luncheon.

The Arts in Business Award recognizes a Greensboro small business for its leadership and commitment to the arts and its impact on the arts over the past year, as measured by activities, projects, or events in support of any aspect of the arts.

With its exciting series of gallery events and art shows, The View on Elm has become a fixture of the downtown arts scene since relocating from State Street to South Elm in 2004. Sophisticated and worldly, The View is a downtown environment where people see cutting-edge eyewear together with amazing art and exquisite handmade jewelry.

The View is the brainchild—and the passion—of owner Becky Causey. With The View, Causey has created a space that showcases the arts in Greensboro, a focal point for arts and community events that are diverse and welcoming. The paintings on the walls, the artists in the room, and the people who attend events become “social art.” New artists, experienced artists—all find a welcoming place at The View in which to introduce their art to a wide range of arts lovers and potential buyers.

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About ArtsGreensboro

With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through its ArtsFund-supported grant programs, the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, the Levitt AMP Greensboro Music Series, I HEART ARTS Month, and other opportunities including the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release

Three More Performers Join Lineup for 76th National Folk Festival, Celebrating Its Second Year in North Carolina from September 9 – 11, 2016

"Greensboro, N.C., March 29, 2016 — Today the National Folk Festival announced three additional artists who will be performing in downtown Greensboro from September 9 – 11, 2016. The 76^th National Folk Festival in 2016 marks the event’s second year of its three-year residency in Greensboro.

Last fall, the 75^th National Folk Festival attracted more than 102,000 attendees to downtown Greensboro for the FREE, three-day weekend. Based on survey data, organizers expect attendance to grow substantially in 2016—by as much as 30% or more.

Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with more than 30 different musical groups performing on as many as seven outdoor performance venues throughout downtown Greensboro. The three artists announced today include:

· Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys – Zydeco: Standouts in the zydeco scene, this band delivers pack-the-floor renditions of Creole classics as well as their own rollicking brand of traditional zydeco. The group is led by accordionist and vocalist Jeffery Broussard, one of today’s most influential zydeco musicians.

· Grupo Rebolú – Colombian: Playing the rich, rhythmic, and undeniably danceable music of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Grupo Rebolú is the preeminent Afro-Colombian ensemble in the United States. People of African, Spanish, and indigenous descent have been intermixing for centuries along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, resulting in a rich blending of cultures. Reflecting this, Grupo Rebolú sings in Spanish, performs on a mix of indigenous, African, and modern instruments, and causes an irresistible urge to get up and dance.

· Sahba Motallebi – Persian: Sahba Motallebi is a modern virtuoso of the tar and setar, lute-like stringed instruments central to Persian classical music, which became central to Iranian identity in the early 1900s. In post-revolutionary Iran, learning and performing traditional music was frowned upon—especially for girls—but Sahba and her sisters studied music as children in their hometown of Sari, a small seaside city in the north of Iran. Sahba was recognized as the Best Tar Player at the Iranian Music Festival for four straight years, beginning in 1995 when she was 16. She left Iran in 2003 to pursue graduate studies, and now lives in Los Angeles, which is home to a vibrant Iranian exile community.

These outstanding artists join the following performers, who have already been announced:

· Balsam Range – Bluegrass

· Clinton Fearon & the Boogie Brown Band – Reggae

· DJ Grandmaster Flash – Hip Hop

· Leonardo Sandoval – Tap

· Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano – Mariachi

· Nathalie – Portuguese Fado

· The Quebe Sisters – Texas Fiddling & Western Swing

· Super Chikan & the Fighting Cocks – Delta Blues

· The Alt – Irish

To learn more about these artists, their traditions, and their stories, please visit nationalfolkfestival.com/performers. Throughout the spring and early summer, the National Folk Festival will feature individual artists on its Facebook page (Facebook.com/NationalFolkFestivalNC) and on social media:

· #NCFolkFest

· Twitter: @NtlFolkFestNC

· Instagram: NationalFolkFestNC

· YouTube: National Folk Festival NC

More performers will be announced as they are confirmed.

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About the 2016 National Folk Festival: Co-produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and ArtsGreensboro, the National Folk Festival is celebrating the second year of its three-year residency in downtown Greensboro in 2016. The FREE, three-day event is America’s longest-running festival of traditional arts. nationalfolkfestival.com

About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.

About the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA): The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is one of the nation’s premier non-profit cultural organizations dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk, tribal, and ethnic arts in the United States. Founded in 1933, it is the nation’s oldest producing and presenting organization with such a focus. Its programs celebrate and honor deeply rooted cultural expressions—music, crafts, stories, and dance passed on through time by families and communities as well as by tribal, ethnic, and occupational groups. The NCTA stresses excellence and authenticity in presenting artists to the public in festivals, tours, concerts, media programs, exhibitions, recordings, and other activities, and works in partnership with communities across American to establish new, sustainable traditional arts events that bring lasting social, cultural, and economic benefits. www.ncta-usa.org

About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through its ArtsFund-supported grant programs, the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, the Levitt AMP Greensboro Music Series, I HEART ARTS Month, and other opportunities including the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release

National Folk Festival Announces Call for Artisans and Craftspeople to Participate in North Carolina Arts Marketplace, presented by PNC

Building on 2015 success, Marketplace will be expanded for

2016 Festival, in downtown Greensboro Sept. 9-11, 2016

To be considered by the Marketplace jury, prospective vendors’ applications must be received by April 11, 2016

"Greensboro, N.C., March 10, 2016 — Artisans and craftspeople who can provide a unique shopping experience for thousands of National Folk Festival attendees are invited to submit applications to participate in the North Carolina Arts Marketplace, presented by PNC, at the 2016 Festival. In 2015, the 75^th National Folk Festival attracted more than 102,000 attendees to downtown Greensboro for the FREE, three-day weekend. Organizers expect attendance to increase by as much as 30% or more in 2016.

Based on the success of the North Carolina Arts Marketplace at the 2015 National Folk Festival, organizers plan to expand the marketplace in 2016.

In keeping with the National Folk Festival’s overarching focus on the traditional arts, culture, and heritage of North Carolinians and all Americans, the Arts Marketplace will feature the juried, handmade creations of the finest artists and craftspeople from the North Carolina region. Local Festival Director Amy Grossmann said, “The Arts Marketplace has two goals: 1) to provide our region’s most talented artists with an outlet to exhibit and sell their creations; and, 2) to provide festival-goers with an opportunity to take home truly unique, hand-crafted mementos.”

Online applications are preferred and must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Monday, April 11, 2016. Hard-copy applications will be accepted if postmarked by April 11, 2016. A panel comprised of North Carolina artists and arts leaders will evaluate all applications.

Applications and Marketplace Vendor Guidelines are available at nationalfolkfestival.com/marketplace. Application packages should include the completed application, four to six images of the work the vendor intends to sell, a booth image (if available), and a non-refundable $30 application fee.

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- A Press Release

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to Sponsor Stage at National Folk Festival

One of seven outdoor performance venues,

the Lawn Stage will host daytime performances

Greensboro, N.C., July 22, 2015 — The National Folk Festival announced today that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) will sponsor the Lawn Stage at the 2015 Festival, which will feature 300 artists on seven stages over three days in downtown Greensboro from September 11 – 13, 2015. The three-day Festival is FREE to the public.

The Lawn Stage is an intimate venue that will allow audience members to sit on the grass behind Elon Law School on Commerce Place at Bellemeade Street. Festivalgoers can enjoy a variety of artists on this stage over the weekend from noon to 6 pm on September 12 and September 13.

“We are thrilled to announce that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is channeling its passion for the citizens of our state by championing the 2015 National Folk Festival,” said ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom Philion. “By investing in the Lawn Stage, BCBSNC will provide an opportunity for thousands of audience members to enjoy performances by many of our nation’s most respected traditional artists.”

“Folk music is an expression of the rich history and culture in our state,” said Kathy Higgins, vice president of corporate affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. “The National Folk Festival is an opportunity for North Carolina to host people from around the country so they can gather and enjoy music traditions that have been passed down for generations in our own communities.”

Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, puppeteers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will appear during the National Folk Festival, with at least 30 different individuals and groups performing on the Lawn Stage and six other outdoor performance venues throughout downtown Greensboro.

More than 20 National Folk Festival performers have been announced to date, with further announcements scheduled throughout the summer. Visit NationalFolkFestival.com for updates and information on all performers.

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.91 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. We have been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute every year since 2012. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About the 2015 National Folk Festival: Co-produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and ArtsGreensboro, the National Folk Festival is beginning its three-year residency in downtown Greensboro this year, when it will celebrate its 75th anniversary from September 11 – 13, 2015. The FREE, three-day event is America’s longest-running festival of traditional arts; it will highlight both long-standing traditions and the heritage and culture of North Carolina’s newest immigrant groups, and set the stage for a continuing and permanent North Carolina Folk Festival, beginning in 2018, after the “National” moves on.

Belk is the presenting sponsor of the 2015 Festival. With downtown Greensboro as the backdrop, audiences will enjoy seven stages featuring continuous musical entertainment—from rockabilly to old-time to mariachi, and from funk to Cajun to jazz. Attendees will also be able to dance non-stop to a variety of musical genres at the dance pavilion; dine on regional and ethnic foods; experience folk art demonstrations and performances by N.C. artists; and share the fun of the Family Activities Area with their children. nationalfolkfestival.com

About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. It was also the first to present to the public musical forms such as the blues, Cajun music, polka bands, Tex-Mex conjunto, Peking Opera, and many others. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.

About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, I HEART ARTS Month, power2give, and other initiatives such as the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. www.artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release

National Folk Festival Makes Two Important Announcements: VF Corporation Will Sponsor a Stage, and First Set of Eight Performers Unveiled

One of seven outdoor performance venues, the Wrangler® Stage will anchor the northern end of the National Folk Festival

Greensboro, N.C., May 20, 2015 — The National Folk Festival announced today that VF Corporation will sponsor the “Wrangler Stage” at the 2015 Festival, which will feature 300 artists on seven stages over three days in downtown Greensboro from September 11 – 13, 2015. The Festival is FREE; no tickets are necessary.

A large “street stage” located in the 400 block of North Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, the Wrangler Stage will anchor the northern end of the Festival. At any time throughout the Festival, as many as 5,000 attendees will be able to enjoy performers on this stage, which will operate day and night. Food and beverage vendors will be located on the Wrangler property adjacent to the stage.

Making the announcement today at the Wrangler facility in Greensboro were Anita Graham, Vice President – VF Global Human Resources; Scott Baxter, Vice President – VF Corporation and Group President – Jeanswear, Imagewear and South America; Florence Gatten, Board Chair – ArtsGreensboro; Tom Philion, President and CEO – ArtsGreensboro; Julia Olin, Executive Director – National Council for the Traditional Arts; and Greensboro City Council Member-At-Large Marikay Abuzuaiter.

“We are thrilled to announce that VF Corporation—with its corporate headquarters right here in Greensboro—is making a major commitment to the 2015 National Folk Festival,” said Philion. “With this investment in the Wrangler Stage, VF is providing an opportunity for tens of thousands of people to enjoy performances by some of our nation’s outstanding traditional artists during the Festival.”

“VF and Wrangler are proud to support the National Folk Festival in Greensboro, the place we call home,” said Scott Baxter, Vice President – VF Corporation and Group President – Jeanswear, Imagewear and South America. “By presenting some of the nation’s best traditional artists on the Wrangler Stage during the National Folk Festival, we have a unique opportunity to celebrate the arts and American heritage, something that is also at the heart of Wrangler.”

Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, puppeteers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will appear during the National Folk Festival, with at least 30 different musical groups performing on the Wrangler Stage and six other outdoor performance venues throughout downtown Greensboro.

Following the announcement of VF’s sponsorship of the Wrangler Stage, Julia Olin, Executive Director – National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), which awarded the National Folk Festival to Greensboro and is co-producing it with ArtsGreensboro, announced the first set of eight artists performing at the Festival. Those artists include:

· Dale Watson – Honky-Tonk & Country

· Marquise Knox – Blues

· Los Tres Reyes – Trío Romántico

· Mythili Prakash Dance Ensemble – Bharata Natyam

· The Dardanelles – Traditional Music of Newfoundland

· Sheila Kay Adams – Appalachian Songs, Stories, and Ballads

· Babá Ken Okulolo & the West African Highlife Band – Highlife

· Yuqin Wang & Zhengli Xu – Chinese Rod Puppetry

Over 40 people of different backgrounds—and with a deep knowledge of traditional music and art forms—came together from across North Carolina to serve as the local Festival Programming Advisory Committee. “I was thrilled to work with the local Programming Advisory Committee whose input was so valuable to the Festival programming process,” said Olin. “This first group of performers underscores how diverse and exciting the Festival’s programming will be.”

More performers will be announced over the next two months. Check the newly launched NationalFolkFestival.com website often for updates and information on all the performers.

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About VFCorporation: VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) is a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories. The company's highly diversified portfolio of 30 powerful brands spans numerous geographies, product categories, consumer demographics, and sales channels, giving VF a unique industry position and the ability to create sustainable, long-term growth for our customers and shareholders. The company's largest brands are The North Face^®, Vans^®, Timberland^®, Wrangler^®, Lee^®and Nautica^®. For more information, visit www.vfc.com.

With downtown Greensboro as the backdrop, audiences will enjoy seven stages featuring continuous musical entertainment—from rockabilly to old-time to mariachi, and from funk to Cajun to jazz. Attendees will also be able to dance non-stop to a variety of musical genres at the dance pavilion; dine on regional and ethnic foods; experience folk art demonstrations and performances by N.C. artists; and share the fun of the Family Activities Area with their children. nationalfolkfestival.com

About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. It was also the first to present to the public musical forms such as the blues, Cajun music, polka bands, Tex-Mex conjunto, Peking Opera, and many others. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.

About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of over $2.9 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, I HEART ARTS Month, power2give, and other initiatives such as the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. www.artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release

ArtsGreensboro Receives $25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

The organization’s second NEA grant in 10 months will support the Special Needs and Arts Innovation grant program piloted in partnership with the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation

"Greensboro, N.C., May 11, 2015 — The National Endowment for the Arts announced last week that ArtsGreensboro has received a $25,000 grant to support the Special Needs and Arts Innovation grant program.

Recognizing the need to support creative arts collaborations, projects, and programming geared toward building sustainable growth in audiences, ArtsGreensboro joined forces with the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation in 2014 to develop a pilot that evolved into the Special Needs and Arts Innovation grant program.

“Working with the Bryan Foundation to assist arts organizations with needs that go beyond the goals of our four regular grant programs—Mission Support, Project Support, Teacher Art Grants, and Regional Artist Grants—really sparked a desire for ArtsGreensboro to do more in this area,” said ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom Philion. “We are delighted that the NEA has recognized the importance of energizing arts participation across our community by helping arts organizations channel their creativity into building new audiences.”

“The NEA is committed to advancing learning, fueling creativity, and celebrating the arts in cities and towns across the United States,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. Funding this new project—and 1,022 others across the country in this round of grants—will promote opportunities for people in Greensboro and throughout America to experience the arts and exercise their creativity.

Armed with this NEA grant—and with the ongoing support of the Bryan Foundation—ArtsGreensboro is developing a process for implementing the grant program. Once the process is published, nonprofit arts organizations in Greater Greensboro with annual operating budgets over $50,000 may submit applications on a rolling basis. The current review and approval process, which was developed as part of the pilot and is overseen by the Bryan Foundation and ArtsGreensboro, will remain in place."

- A Press Release

ArtsGreensboro and PhotoBiz Present Chicago Guitar Legend Carl Weathersby in a Free Concert on May 1

Bring Shoes to First Friday Brews & Blues Event,

Which Closes I HEART ARTS Month

"Greensboro, N.C., April 20, 2015 — ArtsGreensboro and PhotoBiz announced today that I HEART ARTS Month will end with a free First Friday Brews & Blues Concert, featuring Chicago guitar legend Carl Weathersby, at Courthouse Plaza, 110 South Greene Street in downtown Greensboro, from 5 to 8 pm on May 1, 2015. Natty Greene’s, the Martha and William Murray Charitable Foundation, and Yes! Weekly are providing additional support.

A powerful blues performer who leaves audiences amazed and thoroughly entertained, Carl Weathersby delivers a unique mix of Southern charm, soulful vocals, and fierce guitar-playing that’s perfectly suited to an outdoor venue.

As the presenting sponsor for the First Friday Brews & Blues Concert, PhotoBiz recognizes the importance of the arts to our city. “Serving artists and the local community is ingrained in the DNA of our company,” said Phil Parker, Director of Marketing Strategy for PhotoBiz. “So we’re excited to continue our support of ArtsGreensboro programs.”

In another community engagement initiative, PhotoBiz is an official drop-off location for “Shoes for Love,” an annual, nationwide charity shoe drive that provides new and gently used shoes to orphanages in developing countries. Collection boxes will be set up at the First Friday Brews & Blues Concert on May 1; attendees are invited to drop off shoes there, at the Greensboro Cultural Center, or at the PhotoBiz offices at 516 West Friendly Avenue in downtown Greensboro.

“Like PhotoBiz, ArtsGreensboro recognizes the importance of the arts, which provide $118 million annually in local economic impact,” said ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom Philion. “Furthermore, we want to give everyone in our community the opportunity to be actively involved in the arts. That’s why we kicked off the first-ever I HEART ARTS Month with a free Family Jubilee and we’re ending it with a free concert geared toward adults.”

ArtsGreensboro encourages all Greensboro residents—of all ages—to show their love for the arts by attending performances or exhibitions, auditioning for productions, creating artwork, and making a donation to the 2015 ArtsFund, the vehicle through which ArtsGreensboro financially supports the arts community through grants and other initiatives.

(more)

Throughout April, many Greensboro businesses, retailers, restaurants, and arts organizations are collecting donations for the ArtsFund. To see a list of participating organizations, visit www.artsgreensboro.org/i-heart-arts-month. Those wishing to make a donation to the ArtsFund may visit www.artsgreensboro.org/contribute or text ARTS to 91999 to make a donation using a debit or credit card."

- A Press Release

AT&T North Carolina To Serve As Major Sponsor for National Folk Festival

Sponsorship will fund National Folk Festival artists performing in local schools in conjunction with the 75^th anniversary of the Festival, which will take place in downtown Greensboro from Sept. 11 – 13, 2015

Greensboro, N.C., April 14, 2015 — The National Folk Festival announced today that AT&T North Carolina will serve as the Artists-in-the-Schools Sponsor for the 2015 Festival, which will feature 300 artists on seven stages over three days in downtown Greensboro from September 11 – 13, 2015.

As a result of the AT&T North Carolina sponsorship, various artists will visit a number of schools in the days surrounding the National Folk Festival. In addition to performing and conducting workshops, the artists will spend time talking with the students and answering their questions.

Making the announcement today at Erwin Montessori School in Greensboro were AT&T North Carolina President Venessa Harrison; ArtsGreensboro Board Chair Florence Gatten; Honorary National Folk Festival Chair and former N.C. Secretary of Cultural Resources Linda Carlisle; and Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan. They were joined at the podium by Erwin Principal Dr. Deborah Parker; Erwin Art Teacher Mary Young; and Guilford County Schools Arts Education Coordinator Nathan Street.

“We are thrilled to announce that AT&T North Carolina—with its 6,900 employees across our state—is making a major commitment to the 2015 National Folk Festival,” said Carlisle. “With this investment, AT&T will enable thousands of school children to meet and enjoy performances by some of our nation’s outstanding traditional artists.”

“At AT&T, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities,” said Venessa Harrison, President of AT&T North Carolina. “We are excited to be the Arts-in-the-Schools sponsor for the Festival, and appreciate the opportunity to help enrich so many students’ educational experiences through first-hand exposure to outstanding musicians and performers.”

Following the announcement, participants enjoyed a special dedication of a “Kindness” Quilt created by Elon University students for Erwin students.

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About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. It was also the first to present to the public musical forms such as the blues, Cajun music, polka bands, Tex-Mex conjunto, Peking Opera, and many others. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.

- A Press Release