Connecting: People, Cultures, Present to Past

Texas Folklife sustains the state’s rich cultural legacy through its annual series of exhibitions, performances, and media and education programs. Texas Folklife is committed to bringing diverse communities together through the recognition and celebration of our common humanity.

Performances & Exhibits
Going Public
Texas Folk Masters
Texas Folklife showcases Texas'  legendary songwriters and performers. Past performances include A Tribute to Santiago Jimenez Jr., Fiddle Fete, Shades of Blue, Sonidos del Sur, Texas Gospel Train, Las Super Tejanas, The Lead Belly Legacy, Texas Bluegrass, Guy Clark: A Texas Songwriter's Homecoming, Freddy Fender, The Ultimate Cindy Walker Tribute, As The Spirit Moves, Border Radio: The Big Jukebox in the Sky and  Border Radio: The Electronic Campfire. In 2009, Texas Folklife presented Beaumont blues phenomenon Barbara Lynn at the Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center for the American Folklife Center's "Home Grown: the Music of America" concert series.

Touring Traditions
Texas Folklife tours the best of the traditional arts and supports the careers of Texas artists by bringing their work to a broad audience. Touring Traditions are modestly priced exhibits and performances that can be brought to your museum, school, church, recital hall or other venues. The annual Accordion Kings & Queens concerts in Houston and Big Squeeze performances around the state delight thousands of fans. Texas Folklife touring exhibits are available to venues for modest rental plus shipping. Current offerings include : Yard Show, Sing!, Down in Houston, Pasatiempos de la Frontera, and Texas Zydeco.

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Apprenticeships, Education, Community Residencies
Passing it on and Bringing it Home 
From theater and gallery talks, workshops and apprenticeships with master craftsmen and musicians, to residencies in communities and schools, Texas Folklife offers lively and informative experiences with the arts. We present outstanding artists and tradition bearers who pass along and strengthen community traditions and become powerful role models for students.

Texas Folklife collaborates with community organizations and schools to explore local traditions.  In Austin, for example, we are working on Stories From Deep in the Heart, an oral history and radio project with high school students and teachers to document family and community folklore and arts. A Place at the Table, our new statewide survey, invites all Texans to help us gather and share their traditions of growing, producing, preparing and celebrating with food. A Place at the Table brings us into new locales and will enrich Texas Folklife programming for years to come.

Apprenticeship Program
The Apprenticeship Program connects master artists to skilled apprentices who receive training in a traditional art form. Teaching an apprentice gives the master artist the opportunity to refine his craft and gives the apprentice a chance to learn an art form that they, in turn, can teach others. Apprenticeships breathe life into the traditional arts and foster the continuation of that art form.
 
Community Residency Program
Traditions often begin - and continue - in small communities.
The Community Residency Program is developed in collaboration with  cultural organizations in small Texas communites specifically for the purpose of exploring and continuing the tradition in that community.

Media Projects
Going Public
Texas Folklife media projects including The Border Radio Show broadcast on National Public Radio, and The Big Squeeze documentary about our statewide contest for young accordion players by famed director, Hector Galán, seen on PBS around the country. Stories From Deep in the Heart is a collaboration with KUT radio in Austin who will broadcast select pieces.