Pickles, People & Place: Thinking Like a Folklorist About Rituals
Reflections on the NPR story about Mount Olive’s New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop This past week NPR shared a story about a place and event many North Carolinians know well: Mount Olive’s New Year’s Eve pickle drop – a playful tradition now tied to that town’s identity. At first glance, dropping a glowing pickle from […]
NC Folklife Institute Announces 2025 In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Awardees
$10,000 Awards Support Apprenticeship Pairs in NC’s Mountain Communities to Preserve Traditional Arts DURHAM, N.C. (November 19, 2025) — The North Carolina Folklife Institute is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Awards, a program supporting the continuation of traditional arts and cultural practices across North Carolina’s Appalachian […]
NCFI and PineCone present Gospel Panel Discussions at Raleigh Wide Open
The Gospel program at Raleigh Wide Open brings the sounds, stories, and spirit of gospel music to life through five dynamic talks at the City of Raleigh Museum. On Friday, October 3, Appaloosa Redd joins Greensboro musician and storyteller Colin Cutler for a conversation on the Gospel of the Blues, followed by Kendall Kent’s exploration […]
PineCone and North Carolina Folklife Institute Partner to Present Gospel Performances and Panels at Raleigh Wide Open Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:Stacy ChandlerPineCone Communications Managercommunications@pinecone.org919-664-8333 (office)919-946-6685 (cell) Amy GrossmannNorth Carolina Folklife Institutestaff@ncfolk.org336-223-5956 (office) Raleigh, NC — September 3, 2025 — PineCone and the North Carolina Folklife Institute (NCFI) are partnering to present a powerful lineup of gospel music performances and dynamic panel discussions as part of the Raleigh Wide Open Festival, taking […]
North Carolina Folklife Institute Names New Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENews Media Contact:Amy Grossmannstaff@ncfolk.org Amy Grossmann to Lead Organization Celebrating North Carolina’s Cultural Traditions RALEIGH, N.C. (August 20, 2025) – The North Carolina Folklife Institute (NCFI) is proud to announce the appointment of Amy Grossmann as its new Executive Director. Grossmann brings a wealth of experience in cultural heritage, community engagement, and nonprofit […]
Applications Open for the 2025 North Carolina Folklife Apprenticeships Program
$10,000 Grants Support Mentor-Apprentice Pairs in NC’s Mountain Communities to Preserve Traditional Arts DURHAM, N.C. (July 15, 2025) – The North Carolina Folklife Institute is excited to announce the opening of the 2025 North Carolina Appalachian Folklife Apprenticeship Program. This program supports year-long, community-based mentorships in the folk and traditional arts of western North Carolina. […]
Please join us in supporting our folklife traditions and the people’s arts!
Dear friends, When you think of the things that make you who you are – what you want to safeguard and pass down to future generations—what comes to your mind? If you’re like most North Carolinians, you think about the traditions of your family and community: the foods, tales customs, and art forms that are […]