With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Oregon Folklife Network conducts an ongoing, statewide survey of traditional artists and culture keepers. Regional installments of the survey identify outstanding folk artists and work with communities, organizations, and Tribes to increase public awareness about the region's living cultural heritages. Together, the regional surveys document diverse cultures and folkways throughout the state.
Survey fieldworkers refer master artists to the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program and recommend tradition keepers for our Culture Keepers Roster, an online, curated resource for local festivals, parks, schools, and library programs seeking performers and speakers.
Survey research is publicly accessible through University of Oregon’s Special Collections and University Archives.
Please contact OFN to recommend an artist or tradition keeper who should be interviewed as part of a regional survey.
SURVEY TIMELINE
2014 Fieldworkers Douglas Manger and LuAnne Kozma traveled to Eastern Oregon to document folklife in Klamath, Malheur, Lake, and Harney Counties, including the Burns Paiute and Klamath Tribes.
2015 Fieldworkers Nancy Nusz and Deborah Fant traveled to the Columbia Gorge to document folklife in Morrow, Umatilla, Hood River, Wasco, Jefferson, Sherman, and Gilliam Counties, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and Confederated Tribes of Umatilla.
2016 Fieldworkers Douglas Manger and Joseph O’Connell traveled to Eastern Oregon to document folklife in Union, Wallowa, Baker, Grant, Wheeler, Crook, and Deschutes Counties.
2017 Fieldworkers Nancy Nusz, Douglas Manger, and Makaela Kroin traveled to the Portland Metro Area to document folklife in Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill Counties.
2018 Fieldworkers Amy Howard, Alina Mansfield, and Thomas Grant Richardson traveled to Southern Willamette Valley to document folklife in Polk, Marion, Linn, Benton, and Lane Counties.
2019 Fieldworkers Douglas Manger and Joseph O'Connell traveled to Oregon's northern coastal region to interview artists and culture keepers in Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln counties and among the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
2020 Southwest Coast and Rogue Valley counties of Coos and Curry counties; the Coquille Tribe; the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Siuslaw and Lower Umpqua; and the Cow Creek band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
The survey is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Folk and Traditional Arts Program.