The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) The NCTA is the nation’s oldest multicultural arts presenting organization. For over eight decades, through festivals, tours, symposia, exhibits, and media productions, the NCTA has showcased the very best of the myriad grassroots folk, tribal and ethnic cultures that comprise our diverse nation.

Founded in 1933, the NCTA is the oldest folk arts organization in the nation.

The NCTA is dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk and traditional arts in the United States.

NCTA’s dynamic programs celebrate the richness of America’s living heritage.

NCTA partners with communities to build sustainable cultural events that deliver lasting social, cultural and economic benefits.

The acclaimed National Folk Festival is the nation’s longest-running multicultural celebration of traditional arts.

NCTA presents grassroots artists of the highest caliber in festivals, tours, exhibitions, media productions, and other activities.

NCTA is committed to presenting those arts that collectively define us as a people, that represent continuity from the past to the present and into the future.

The NCTA Collection has been called “one of the major cornerstones of 20th century American folk music 
documentation.”