Oregon Folklife Network

12/17/2025

We are two days away! Bring us through the finish line and help us meet our campaign goal of $10,000 by Friday, December 19th.

This week, we are saying thank you to all donors with a special gift.

Give in any amount, and receive VIP access to OFN's upcoming virtual film premiere featuring short documentaries about our 2025 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

All Oregon Folklife Network Programming, including our cornerstone Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, is developed alongside our Culture Bearer Advisory Board (pictured). Your gift will continue to steward community-led programming and the board members who provide yearlong program direction. One board member, Sushmita, shares, “Oregon Folklife Network is a place of healing, of rest, of collaboration for culture keepers.”

Click the link in our description or use this link to give today: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/68690/donations/new?designation_id=7345121&

12/13/2025

Help us unlock $2,000! A generous anonymous donor will match up to $2,000 raised between now and Sunday, December 14th.

“[The Annual Culture Keeper Gathering] offers encouragement. Support. Safe space. A platform to share my story and my artforms… I learned that Oregon Folklife Network really does have my back!”

Every spring, Oregon culture bearers gather for a weekend-long retreat called the Annual Culture Keeper Gathering. During this weekend of programming, culture bearers foster community, peer mentorship, and professional development. Our next Gathering is scheduled in March, 2026 hosted by the University of Oregon.

Donating to Oregon Folklife Network will support continued programming like the Gathering. https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/68690/donations/new?designation_id=7345121&

Read more about the Gathering here: https://mnch.uoregon.edu/annual-culture-keeper-gathering

12/10/2025

“I wanted to thank you soooo much, again, since I was hired last week thanks to [the Oregon Culture Keepers Roster]. They loved the performance, and it seems that they would hire me again, but the first time, it was because of you!!!”

Through representation on our Oregon Culture Keepers Roster, Kenya has found paid opportunities for her dance company, Ballet Papalotl , to perform.

Help us unlock $2,000! An anonymous donor will match up to $2,000 raised between now and Sunday, December 14th. Donating to Oregon Folklife Network will guarantee 280+ culture bearers across the state of Oregon continued representation and use of our Oregon Culture Keepers Roster. https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/68690/donations/new?designation_id=7345121&

12/04/2025

Help us raise $5001 by Dec. 7th -- give us a head start in our end-of-year giving campaign! Be the dollar that makes a difference.

A portion of your gift to Oregon Folklife Network helps emerging culture bearers apprentice with esteemed mentors in their cultural communities. Through participating in our Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, Jenan (pictured) built confidence in her Palestinian history, heritage, and values through participating in our Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. She shares,

"[I am] trying to expose more of myself because I’m getting tired of hiding who I am…. [The Apprenticeship Program] brought me confidence and inspiration that I am on the right track.”

https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/68690/donations/new?

12/02/2025

This Giving Season – Support Oregon Cultural Arts!

We have been working hard to bridge a $56,000 gap in funding caused by unprecedented instability in our 2025 funding climate.

We need your help bridging the final $10,000!

Your gift ensures the future of Oregon’s traditions. Your gift directly supports Oregon’s traditional artists – culture bearers who dedicate their time and skill towards the transmission of local traditions. Help us ensure a future where our communities can freely express culturally vibrant arts that ground us in shared human values.

Share with a friend, or be the dollar that makes a difference!

Support Oregon Folklife Network by giving a tax deductible gift of personal significance today: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/68690/donations/new?designation_id=7345121&

02/20/2025

We are pleased to announce the 2025 Traditional Artist Apprenticeship Program (TAAP) awardees. The following four mentor-artists are awarded:

Hossein Salehi [Benjamin Malibu] whose traditional art is Santoor Music, Traditional Persian Music; Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim [Jenan Bisharat] whose traditional art is Palestinian Embroidery; Steve Harris [Caitriona Harris] whose traditional art is Vaquero Leatherwork; and Sweta Ravisankar [Arshia Rajeshnarayanan] whose traditional art is Nattuyangam (the rhythmic structure of Bharatanatyam classical Indian dance).

Oregon Folklife Network through the TAAP program is committed to recognizing the knowledge and skills of distinguished mentor artists and supporting them in passing living traditions on to promising apprentices.

Thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Arts Commission for funding this important program!

To learn more about our activities and programs, check our website http://ofn.uoregon.edu

01/06/2025

Welcome to the New Year! As the days grow longer and we set goals for 2025, now is a good time to celebrate what was accomplished in 2024.

Oregon's culture keepers work tirelessly to continue their artforms and traditions - here's a highlight of Dr. Kenya Marquez's work with her Mexican folklorico group, Ballet Papalotl. 567,000 people saw Mexican Ballet Papalotl perform in 2024!

If you're interested in booking with Ballet Papalotl for 2025, now is the time to contact Dr. Marquez. Visit www.balletpapalotl.org or text (971) 235-5340 to learn more.

Come see how more 567,000 people saw Mexican Ballet Papalotl this 2024, performing at beautiful parks, soccer & hockey games, at the Junior and Grand floral ...

11/15/2024

Join us for the BEseries event with Paul Robert Wolf Wilson (Klamath, Modoc) on Nov 26th at UO!

Paul, a photographer, cinematographer, and environmental advocate, will share his work on climate crisis impact in Indigenous communities. He’ll discuss his journey from the Rio Baker in Patagonia to founding the Maqlaqs Paddle Club, advocating for river stewardship and youth empowerment.

ASL interpreted, free dinner, and activities!
For group reservations or more information, DM . See you there!

11/12/2024

As the skies turn grey and the rainy season settles in, you may be looking for a good book to tuck into. Here are three of our favorite reads by indigenous authors spanning three different genres: history, picture book, and memoir/nature writing.

Fun fact - all three of these authors (David G. Lewis, Steph Littlebird, Robin Wall Kimmerer) have previously collaborated with The Museum of Natural and Cultural History!

09/20/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVlUPwlrYks&t=10s

Applications are due on Tuesday, October 1st! Find guideline and application materials at https://mnch.uoregon.edu/apply-taap-award. Reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions or need any support.

The Oregon Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Arts Commission.

09/09/2024

Don’t forget – tomorrow is our live Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program informational webinar and application support. ZOOM link information can be found on our website, at https://mnch.uoregon.edu/apply-taap-award.

Not able to make it? That’s OK - this ZOOM webinar will be recorded and available to the public.

The Oregon Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Arts Commission.