Louisiana Folklife Center

Founded: 1976
Full Time: 1
Part Time: 1
Budget: 49,994.00
Director: Dr. Lisa Abney
Northwestern State University
Rm. 213 Kyser Hall
NSU Box 3663
Natchitoches, LA 71497

Telephone: 318-357-4332
FAX: 318-357-4330
E-Mail: folklife@nsula.edu
Abney@nsula.edu

Research Areas:

Louisiana folklife and folklore
Goals: To identify, document, and present Louisiana's traditional arts, as follows: 1) annually present the Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival in Prather Coliseum; 2) publish the journal Louisiana Folklife ; 3) maintain folklife archives and the web-based Louisiana Folklife Database; 4) provide logistical support for the Folklife Society of Louisiana; 5) distribute documentary records; and 6) to promote folklife studies. The Center hosts a variety of conferences dealing with various aspects of Louisiana culture and maintains the aforementioned database and web-site for Louisiana Folk Artists. The Center offers a library including print folklife materials, over 1,200 hours of interviews and Louisiana music recorded live at the Natchitoches/NSU Folklife Festival.

Areas of Expertise:

Public folklore presentations, economic development using cultural resources, northern Louisiana folklore and folklife and linguistics and folk narrative.

Special Capabilities and Facilities:

Opportunities to review and perform research using a wide variety of archival materials and documents regarding folklore and folklife.

Research Equipment:

Tape recorders, VCR

Keywords:

Folklife Folklore
Heritage
Culture
Ethnic Music
Folk Art
Folk Narratives
Linguistics