What we do
What is folklife?
Folklife refers to the ways that individuals and groups draw on traditional knowledge to make meaning in their everyday lives.
Learn more about Appalachian folklife by reading “Folklore of Appalachia” by Sarah Craycraft, Jordan Lovejoy, Cassie Patterson, and Sydney Varajon in the open e-book, Accessible Appalachia: An Open-Access Introduction to Appalachian Studies edited by Lisa Day and Jacob Johnson.
Read more about folklife in Dr. Mary Hufford’s essay “American Folklife: A Commonwealth of Cultures” or visit the American Folklore Society’s website and What is Folklore? website to learn more!
Theory of Change
Our goal is to draw on theories, methods, and practices of community-based research and action-oriented public folklore practice to support programming and research that will enrich the lives of southern Ohioans, especially those whose cultures are less visible. We engage in deep listening and participatory change in order to document, share, and provide educational opportunities and materials about the complex histories and present of the region.
Approach & Methodology
Community-Based Research and Collaborative Ethnography are approaches and methodologies that emphasize community input and direction at every stage of the research process from conceptualization and research to implementation and the sharing of findings. Co-investigation, capacity building, co-writing, and responsive design are core values at the heart of Southern Ohio Folklife. We work slowly, intentionally, and iteratively, focusing on the way that collaborative processes can lead to transformation.
Our Program
Conducting collaborative ethnographic fieldwork in partnership with southern Ohio residents.
Providing/facilitating/collaborating to produce programs and materials (performances, workshops, internships, field schools, exhibits, publications, etc.) for the general public that showcase folklife practices and facilitate critical discussions about folklife.
Providing/leading/collaborating to produce dialogues about enduring and emerging cultural topics.
Collaborating with individuals and institutions with relevant missions to provide research, training, and networking opportunities to scholars, practitioners, and community leaders.
Connecting with folklife to create and test collaborative, participatory approaches and methodologies and to advocate for the role of local knowledge in systemic change.
Collaborating to host performances, demonstrations, and activities that share, amplify, and deepen knowledges of diverse local cultures in the southern Ohio area.