The folk and traditional arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community. Community members may share a common ethnic heritage, cultural mores, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. These vital and constantly reinvigorated artistic traditions are shaped by values and standards of excellence that are passed from generation to generation, most often within family and community, through demonstration, conversation, and practice.
Folk and Traditional Arts Fact Sheet | Folk and Traditional Arts Motion Graphic
Staff
Folk & Traditional Arts Director
Staff
- Bill Mansfield
- Folk & Traditional Arts Specialist, mansfieldw@arts.gov
- Cheryl Schiele
- Folk & Traditional Arts Specialist, schielec@arts.gov
Recent Grants
An online grant search is available to find information on NEA grants from 2000 to the present.
Partnerships
Lifetime Honors
National Heritage Fellowships
The NEA National Heritage Fellowships recognize the recipients' artistic excellence and support their continuing contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage.
National Medal of Arts
The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government and is awarded by the President of the United States.