Folklife are the living traditions shared by familial, ethnic, occupational, religious, regional, and other groups. Folklife reflects the common experiences, esthetics, and values of distinct groups of people. It is handed down informally within the group - from one generation to the next - in face-to-face interactions and through practice.

The Idaho Folklife Resources Directory is a tool created to facilitate contact among traditional folk artists, performing groups, the cultural, presenting, and educational organizations in Idaho's seven distinct regions.

The Idaho Folklife Resources Directory is a work in progress. As people migrate in and out of the state, it reflects statewide and regional population shifts and the economic cycles that affect the infrastructure of community folklife - cultural centers, presenting organizations, festivals, and art education programs.

The artists in this directory are able to give demonstrations or perform in school and community festivals. The list of presenters includes organizations that retain artifacts or folklife records they make accessible to researchers and to the public at large. Other organizations were intentionally left out because they can be found in the Nonprofit Arts Organizations of Idaho directory.

The Idaho Folklife Resources Directory will be updated periodically. Contact Maria Carmen Gambliel, Folk & Traditional Arts Program Director to be included in this Directory or if wish to apply for Traditional Arts Apprenticeship. For a description of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeships, click on Folk & Traditional Arts and follow the appropriate link or click here for an application form for the directory.  
 

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