Explore the Oregon Culture Keeper Roster
Support Oregon Culture Keepers and host a workshop or special event!
The Oregon Culture Keeper Roster is a resource list of over 250 jury selected folk and traditional artists. Search the roster and connect with cultural experts documented through our regional surveys and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.
Rostered artists and culture keepers can provide educational presentations, hands-on demonstrations, or performances to a variety of audiences. We recommend a fee of at least $250 plus travel expenses, unless otherwise noted, for such appearances. We do not serve as a booking agent, so please contact the artists directly.
HOW TO USE THE ROSTER
Search the roster by name, heritage, county, or keyword to find:
highly skilled traditional artists for your classroom,
storytellers for your library event,
cultural experts for your humanities program,
performers for your festival stage, or
craft artists for demonstrations.
Check back often—we regularly add new folk and traditional artists!
APPLY TO BE ON THE ROSTER
Interested in applying to be on the roster?
First, review OFN’s definition of a Culture Keeper.
A Culture Keeper is a folk or traditional artist, who actively practices, passes on, and preserves the living cultural traditions of the cultural community to which they belong and is recognized by that community. Folk and traditional arts do not include folk-inspired art, which is produced by individuals and groups who are not part of the cultural community that originally produced/created/developed the art form, even if the quality of the art is excellent.
Second, fill out and send in the application form and all required work samples.
Apply to join the roster
Special thanks to the Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the University of Oregon for their support of the roster.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.