NEA Grant Allows Arts Center to Preserve Southeastern Folk Culture
May 5, 2008, WOODBURY – A $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant will help the Arts Center of Cannon County preserve documentaries about Southeastern folk culture, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon announced.
“The Arts Center of Cannon County will produce a five-part documentary project supporting the preservation of folk culture in our region,” Gordon said. “By creating this documentary, the Center plans to preserve the images and sounds of folk music legends throughout Tennessee.”
The documentary features musical sessions with five Tennessee folk artists – MacDonald Craig, Charlie Acuff, Clyde Davenport, Will Keys and Bob Douglas – recorded by filmmaker and musician Buddy Ingram.
The project provides a unique opportunity for fans of old Southern folk music to see and hear the songs they enjoy. “You’re not just getting a documentary portrait, but an intimate concert with five Tennessee artists,” said Evan Hatch, project manager.
The featured folk artists can be seen in their natural environments, doing a repertoire of their tunes for anyone who wants to see, Hatch said. The documentary includes vocal performances, as well as music from banjo and fiddle players.
The project also provides modern country music fans with an opportunity return to their roots. “It seems all too often in Tennessee that country music is seen as something modern,” Hatch said. “But these guys are bearers of tradition.” Hatch also added that sharing their music really keeps with the Arts Center’s goal of preservation.
The Arts Center of Cannon County has been developing projects in folk culture for several years. Last year, the Center produced and distributed the Southbound Series, an 11-part documentary about Southern music. In 2006, the Center’s in-house record label won a Grammy for their project on the views and accomplishments of Dr. John Work III.
This year’s documentary is yet another testament of the Center’s adherence to preservation. “This project is about preserving heritage,” ACCC Executive Director Donald Fann said. “It’s about creating a brand for Tennessee and Cannon County as a place that appreciates and preserves the arts.”
