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NCTA Announces Selection of New Executive Director

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND. The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Lora Bottinelli has been selected as the organization’s new executive director.  Bottinelli is a skilled and experienced arts leader, administrator, fundraiser and folklorist who comes to the NCTA following a 16-year career at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, …

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78th National Folk Festival Draws 63,000 Attendees to Downtown Salisbury

SILVER SPRING, MD—The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), Salisbury Mayor Jake Day, and National Folk Festival Local Manager Caroline O’Hare are excited to announce that attendance estimates have been tallied: the National Folk Festival in Salisbury, Maryland, drew approximately 63,000 attendees in its inaugural year. “It’s an unequivocal success,” said Mayor Jake Day. “We expected to draw record …

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NCTA Online Benefit Auction is LIVE! (until midnight Sunday, 3/18)

LINK to benefit auction site: https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/ncta-benefit-auction-4229. Via phone: Text the word “NCTA” to “88793” to register and bid Our March 14 benefit concert may have sold out in just 7 hours, but everyone—attendees and non-attendees alike—can participate in our online benefit auction, with proceeds to benefit the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). Bid on a vintage Martin guitar, …

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First Eight Performers Announced for 78th National Folk Festival

Salisbury, MD – The National Folk Festival announced today the first group of artists who will be performing in downtown Salisbury from September 7 – 9, 2018. The 78th National Folk Festival in 2018 marks the first year of the event’s three-year residency in Salisbury. Approximately 350 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with …

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March 14: Artists Gather for NCTA Benefit Concert in D.C.

Celebrating and supporting the work of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, Masters of American Music brings together a group of exceptional musicians whose artistry is rooted in the American experience. Featuring Jerry Douglas, Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell, artists that stand at the artistic apex of their respective musical worlds, the concert also introduces some amazing younger musicians: …

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National Council for the Traditional Arts Announces Leadership Transition

NOVEMBER 29, 2017—The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) announced today that Julia Olin plans to step down as Executive Director during 2018. Olin will continue to be actively engaged with the organization, serving as the NCTA’s Artistic Director and Director of Special Projects & Initiatives, and facilitating the transition to new leadership. A national search to fill the executive …

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Salisbury, Maryland to host National Folk Festival, 2018-2020

Salisbury, MD – Mayor Jake Day is excited to announce that Salisbury has been named the official 2018-2020 National Folk Festival Host City. Salisbury was among 34 cities nationwide that competed for the honor of hosting the nation’s preeminent traveling celebration of traditional arts and culture for a three-year stay in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The announcement was made today …

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The Collected Writings of Joe Wilson

Fred Bartenstein has collected some of Joe Wilson’s writings in two new volumes, available this month from The University of Tennessee Press. The two books are: Roots Music In America: Collected Writings of Joe Wilson Lucky Joe’s Namesake: The Extraordinary Life and Observations of Joe Wilson Edited by Fred Bartenstein Charles K. Wolfe Music Series Ted Olson, Series Editor Joe …

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