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.
Performance Opportunities
FOLK & TRADITIONAL ARTS – a definition
The folk and traditional arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community. Community members may share a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. These vital and constantly reinvigorated artistic traditions are shaped by values and standards of excellence that are passed from generation to generation, most often within family and community, through demonstration, conversation, and practice. Genres of artistic activity include, but are not limited to, music, dance, crafts, and oral expression.
—National Endowment for the Arts
Submission of materials – performing artists:
Preferred artist submission for Festival performance consideration is electronically through Sonicbids.
Artists may still submit hard materials directly to:
NCTA Programming
8757 Georgia Ave, Suite 450
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Please include audio (required), video samples, biographical information and press materials.
All materials received will be logged in, and will receive a preliminary review to assess quality, authenticity and appropriateness. Qualified submissions will be brought before the programming committee for further consideration.
No materials will be returned. Artists will not be contacted unless the NCTA is interested in pursuing performance possibilities.
The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk and traditional arts in the United States. Founded in 1933, it is the nation’s oldest folk arts organization. Its programs celebrate and honor deeply rooted cultural expressions – music, dance, crafts, rituals and stories passed on through time in families, communities, tribal, ethnic, regional and occupational groups.
