Public Programs Section

The Public Programs Section of the American Folklore Society provides a support and information network for individuals and organizations working in public folklore. It is the largest AFS section, and supports an active network of public agencies, independent non-profit organizations, and public folklorists working in many different ways to support traditional artists and communities and educate the public about folk culture. The section is also interested in education in public folklore and in maintaining an open dialogue with academic folklore programs on issues of mutual interest and concern.

The section holds an annual meeting during the AFS conference to conduct section business, to discuss issues of importance to public folklore, and to hear reports from national folklore programs. It also sponsors a lively fundraising auction to raise money for section award programs and advocacy efforts for the field.

Section-sponsored prizes and awards include the Benjamin A. Botkin Prize for excellence in public folklore, which is awarded by the Society and the section; the Archie Green Student Travel Award, and the AFS Community Scholars Travel Stipends.

The Archie Green Public Folklore Advocacy Award, established in 2009 and named for the preeminent labor scholar and passionate advocate for the discipline of folklore (1917-2009), is presented by the Public Programs Section of the American Folklore Society to outstanding devotees, community members, advocates, and others who generally operate outside the professional field of folklore and who have made significant contributions to the preservation and encouragement of folk traditions in the United States through public oriented projects, programs and other innovative activities. Awardees should have advanced the general mission of public sector folklore either individually or in concert with others, including professional folklorists.

Tom Davenport was selected as the first recipient of the Archie Green Public Folklore Advocacy Award for his work with Folkstreams. The committee, responding to a wide range of support letters, recognizes Folkstreams as a visionary project, started at a time when streaming films on the web was in its infancy. It has gone on to become an extraordinary democratic initiative in public folklore and education, exponentially increasing the visibility of the field, and giving grassroots communities across the US access to their own traditions, folklore, and cultural history. In addition, the committee recognizes the excellence of Davenport�s own work as a filmmaker documenting American folk culture.

The section publishes the annual Public Programs Bulletin, with reports from public folklore organizations and independent folklorists on their activities and programs, discussions of current issues, and a directory of section members.

Looking for a public folklorist? Please see the section's directory of public folklorists in the US. 

The section is overseen by two co-conveners who are chosen for three-year terms. In addition, several standing committees see to the work of the section during the year. These include a Program Committee for organizing section-sponsored sessions at the annual meeting; a Botkin Prize Committee for reviewing nominations and recommending an award recipient to the AFS Board; an Archie Green Student Travel Award Committee to select award recipients; and an Auction Committee, responsible for organizing the annual fundraising auction. In addition, temporary committees are occasionally appointed to act on short-term projects for the section.

Public Programs Section dues are $20 per year for individuals and $5 for students. Membership includes the right to vote on section business and to receive the Bulletin. AFS membership is not required for section membership.

Two useful resources for public folklorists are the Publore listserv and the TAPNet section of the AFS web site; click on these links or those in the sidebar for more information.

 

To join this American Folklore Society interest-group section, please visit the AFS membership page of this web site, where you will find both a secure online and a printable, mailable membership form. You need not be a member of the American Folklore Society to join its sections.