Newsroom

Actor Jimmy Smits Hosts the Virtual Event on November 17 on arts.gov Washington, DC—The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, will present The Culture of America: A Cross-Country Visit with the 2021 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 8:00 pm ET. Emmy Award-winning ... Read More »

San Juan, PR – Today the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the National Park Service, and La Casa de la Plena, announce a historic new collaborative and free public performance project, Pleneando en el Castillo San Cristóbal. This new series of interactive and family friendly workshops and performances feature Plena, a Puerto Rican heritage expression, rooted in oral ... Read More »

  Imagine transforming your city into a vibrant celebration of music, dance and art from across America that can bring 100,000 event goers and generate tens of millions in economic impact.   For three years beginning in 2023, the nation’s longest running traditional arts event—the National Folk Festival—can take root in the heart of your community. See your city streets flourish ... Read More »

Did you hear the news? 81st National Folk Festival in Salisbury for 2022! In a surprise announcement during the kickoff of the 80th National Folk Festival, the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and the City of Salisbury announced plans for the National Folk Festival to continue its tenure in Salisbury, Maryland, for another year. The nationally celebrated event, ... Read More »

80th National Folk Festival Commemorative Acadian Accordion Auction This Acadian accordion was custom built by Marc Savoy and his son Joel in support of the 80th National Folk Festival. Sixty-five years of playing the Cajun accordion, together with fifty-eight years of building these instruments, is the reason for the special sound and feel of this beautiful Acadian accordion. Built in ... Read More »

SALISBURY, MD – Today festival organizers announced another six performers who will be featured at the 80th National Folk Festival. The festival returns to Salisbury September 10-12, 2021, with performances, special family and Maryland folklife programming, diverse food and beverage offerings, and more—all presented free to the public on outdoor stages located in the heart of the city’s recently revitalized ... Read More »

The National Endowment for the Arts announced the 2021 NEA National Heritage Fellows, recipients of the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. These lifetime honor awards of $25,000 are given in recognition of both artistic excellence and efforts to sustain cultural traditions for future generations. The annual celebration of the new class of National Heritage Fellows will ... Read More »

SALISBURY, MD (May 18, 2021) – The first six performers have been announced for the 80th National Folk Festival. The festival returns to Downtown Salisbury September 10-12, 2021, with performances, special family and Maryland folklife programming, diverse food and beverage offerings, and more—all presented free to the public on three outdoor stages. This year’s event will mark the celebration of ... Read More »

Salisbury, MD – Today the National Folk Festival confirmed it will return to downtown Salisbury September 10-12, 2021, with performances, special family and Maryland folklife programming, diverse food and beverage offerings, and more—all presented free to the public on three outdoor stages. This year’s event will mark the celebration of the 80th National Folk Festival as well as the third ... Read More »

A Statement from NCTA Executive Director Lora Bottinelli It has been nearly one year since our worlds changed so dramatically. After cancelling our in-person festival season in 2020, we were optimistic we would be able to return to a full festival schedule in 2021. But to our deep disappointment, all signs suggest that the threat of this pandemic will continue ... Read More »