Founded in 1933, the NCTA is the longest-running folk and traditional arts organization in the nation, and the only one committed to producing live, multicultural traditional arts events throughout the entire country. NCTA programs celebrate and honor deeply rooted cultural expressions—music, dance, crafts, rituals and stories passed on through time in families, communities, and tribal, ethnic, regional and occupational groups. Through nearly 10 decades of festivals, tours, symposia, exhibits, and media productions, the NCTA has showcased the very best of the rich and varied grassroots cultural communities.

 

The NCTA benefits from contributions to its annual giving campaign. Contributions support the National Folk Festival and other NCTA programs that expand awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the artistic traditions of all Americans. NCTA’s events, most of which are entirely free to the public, cultivate connection across cultures and strengthen communities through partnerships that deliver lasting social, cultural, and economic benefits. Contributions also support general operations, staff development and capacity building, and the NCTA’s longstanding commitment to documentation and preservation of folk and traditional arts in the United States. This ever-expanding archive is one of the world’s premier collections of culturally significant and rare recordings.

 

Join us in supporting the nation’s premier producing and presenting organization of folk and traditional arts in the United States as it honors the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Donate today!