Virginia Folklife Program

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Keeping Traditions Alive – A Special Offer

In honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, In Good Keeping is available for purchase through the University of Virginia Bookstore at a special discount.

Told in the voice of the master artists from the first five years of the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship program, In Good Keeping pairs Morgan Miller’s photographs and State Folklorist Jon Lohman’s reflective text to showcase a wide range of folk traditions and master practitioners — from canning to decoy carving, from bluegrass fiddling to steel drum making.  This book rewards readers who are familiar with Virginia’s traditional arts and newcomers alike, while reaffirming the importance of passing these cherished traditions on to future generations.

From now through the month of June, In Good Keeping can be purchased for the discounted price of $19.50, plus tax and shipping, a 50-percent savings. Use the discount code “folklife” and order a copy of In Good Keeping now from The VFH Store.

New Apprenticeship Cycle Approaches

For the past ten years, eight experienced masters have been awarded Virginia Folklife Apprenticeships and paired with eager apprentices for a one-on-one, nine-month learning experience that helps ensure that a particular art form is passed on in ways that are conscious of history and faithful to tradition.

Spanning regions and disciplines, these recipients embody Virginia folklife in all its richness and diversity.

Applications for Virginia Folklife Apprenticeships are welcome in all forms of Virginia’s traditional, expressive culture—from decoy carving to fiddle making, from crab-trap building to quilt stitching, from apple butter making to old time banjo playing, from African-American gospel singing to Cambodian-American costume making.

For the 2012-2013 cycle, the Apprenticeships will begin on September 1, 2012 and run through May 31, 2013; applications must be postmarked by June 30, 2012, and earlier applications are especially welcome.

For complete details download our Guidelines & Application.

Full House at The Haven

The Folklife Program and the Virginia Festival of the Book hosted a special evening of tribute to the late Mike Seeger in March by hosting author Bill C. Malone and musicians Elizabeth LaPrelle, James Leva, Danny Knicely, Aimee Curl, and Alexia Smith at The Haven in downtown Charlottesville.

Folklife Director Jon Lohman joined Malone and the traditional musicians on stage as Malone spoke about how he came to chronicle Seeger’s life and work in his new biography of the Rockbridge County resident, Music From the True Vine: Mike Seeger’s Life and Musical Journey.


Sponsored by RoseWood Village and Davenport and Company, the free program captivated the capacity crowd which filled the pews of the former sanctuary; all were treated to a lively program of songs and sounds, including recordings of Seeger talking about and playing some of the heritage music he loved and studied during his lifetime. An Old Time Jam, organized by the Charlottesville Friends of Old Time Music concluded the evening.

An audio recording of the evening is available via the VFH Festival of the Book home web page, or by clicking here.

ALSO: James Leva and Jon Lohman stopped by WTJU FM’s “Walk Right In” on March 6th to share some memories and songs they associate with Mike. Listen to the podcast including some recordings of Mike from the Prism Coffee House.

Featured Video

Houston Caldwell

Come join us this weekend in Galax for HoustonFest, honoring the memory of our good friend Houston Caldwell. Houstonfestgalax.com

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