Alabama Center for Traditional Culture

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ALABAMA CENTER FOR TRADITIONAL CULTURE

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Anne Kimzey and Steve Grauberger
working on a radio show.

The Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, a division of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, was created in 1990 to further the agency's mission to research, document and preserve the state's folk cultures.

Folklife is comprised of those traditional expressions of culture that have grown from generation to generation among the many communities that have settled in this state--communities that share the same historical experience, ethnic heritage, language, occupation, religion, or geographic area.

Folklife includes folk arts such as traditional crafts, music and dance, as well as, regional foodways, folk architecture, beliefs, storytelling, myths, and medicinal practices, etc. Because it is a product of an historical and geographical process, Alabama folklife, in its many facets, uniquely reflects the personality of our state and values and aesthetics of its communities. The unique folk expressions of Alabama identify and symbolize those communities that have originated them and nurtured them, enlivening and giving meaning to the lives of Alabamians.

We have a rich heritage of folk traditions that is often overlooked, taken for granted and misunderstood. They define what it is to be an Alabamian. Given the diversity and wealth of Alabama's folklife, we strive to broaden an understanding of our community-based traditions so that all Alabamians can be proud of this shared inheritance.

The Objectives of the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture

To identify, through research and fieldwork, folk traditions in communities and among individuals throughout the state of Alabama.

To bolster, though projects, initiatives, grants-making and technical assistance, the cultural activities of those traditional communities throughout the state where expressions of Alabama folklife exist.

To make the power, beauty, diversity and significance of Alabama's folklife expression more accessible to all citizens of the state.

Through research, publications, touring exhibitions, media productions, concerts and festivals, school programs and symposia, the Center produces, statewide, an array of folklife products and activities, and serves as a partner, collaborator and resource to colleges and universities, local arts agencies, libraries, schools, museums and other cultural organizations throughout Alabama.

The Alabama Center for Traditional Culture strives to preserve and present Alabama folk culture and to further an understanding of this cultural heritage. To achieve this goal, the Center also identifies and documents Alabama's folklife and helps others to do so through funding from the Alabama Folklife Program.

The Alabama Folklife Program

The Alabama Folklife Program provides funding assistance in these general areas:

Folklife Projects- provides matching support for organizations.

Technical Assistance Grants –small grants

Folk Art Apprenticeships - provide teaching grants for folk artists and their students

Partnerships and Initiatives - The Alabama State Council on the Arts has and will continue to work with other organizations who share the goal of interpreting and documenting Alabama folk culture. These efforts include media documentation, festivals and publications.

Presentations - provides grants to assist in the presentation of folk artists.

Click here to view ASCA's funding guidelines

The Alabama Folklife Recording Series produced on the Alabama Traditions label includes documentary recordings that have been produced with public support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. All of these recordings are available from the Alabama Folklife Association.

Birmingham Boys: Black Jubilee Gospel Singing from Jefferson County, Alabama (101, produced with the Archive of American Minority Cultures, University of Alabama) Out of Print

Wiregrass Notes: Black Sacred Harp Singing from Southeast Alabama (102, produced with the Archive of American Minority Cultures, University of Alabama). Out of Print

Possum Up A Gum Stump: Home, Field & Commercial Recordings of Alabama Fiddlers (103, produced by Brierfield and Tannehill State Parks)

Cornbread Crumbled in Gravy: Historical Field Recordings from the Byron Arnold Collection of Traditional Tunes (104, produced by the Alabama Folklife Association)

John Alexander’s Sterling Jubilee Singers of Bessemer, Alabama (105, produced by the Alabama Folklife Association)

In the Spirit, Alabama’s Sacred Music Traditions Judge Jackson and the Colored Sacred Harp (106, produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture and the Alabama Folklife Association; book with enclosed CD)

Traditional Music from Alabama’s Wiregrass (107, produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture)

Benjamin Lloyd’s Hymn Book: A Primitive Baptist Song Tradition Judge Jackson and the Colored Sacred Harp (108, produced by the Alabama Folklife Association; book with enclosed CD)

Judge Jackson and the Colored Sacred Harp (109, produced by the Alabama Folklife Association; book with enclosed CD)

Bullfrog Jumped: Children’s Folksongs from the Byron Arnold Collection (110, produced by the Alabama Folklife Association)

Traditional Musics of Alabama, Volume 1, A Compilation (201, produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture)

Traditional Musics of Alabama, Volume 2: African American Seven Shape Note Singing (202, produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture)

Traditional Musics of Alabama, Volume 3: 2002 National Sacred Harp Singing Convention (203, produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture)

Traditional Musics of Alabama IV: African American Sacred Harp Singing (204, produced by the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture)

The Alabama Center for Traditional Culture is directed by Joey Brackner. Click to email joey.brackner@arts.alabama.gov

Click to view complete staff listing