Greensboro, N.C., Sept. 4, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- September 4, 2015 -- As it marks its 75th anniversary from September 11-13, the National Folk Festival, presented by Belk, will be in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the first time in its history. The three-day Festival is FREE to the public.
"The festival is such an embarrassment of riches," said Julia Olin, Executive Director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), which is co-producing the Festival with ArtsGreensboro. "It really does offer something for everyone. If what you see on one stage is not to your taste, you can just move to another and experience something entirely different."
Tom Philion, President and CEO of ArtsGreensboro, said, "The artists we're showcasing will shine a bright light on the cultural richness of our country. We look forward to National Folk Festival audiences exploring the unique musical, artistic, and cultural traditions of all the performers and visual artists as the Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary in Greensboro."
Approximately 300 artists--musicians, dancers, puppeteers, storytellers, potters, and craftspeople--will appear during the 75th National Folk Festival, with 40 different groups performing on seven outdoor stages throughout downtown Greensboro.
Visit NationalFolkFestival.comfor information on all Festival performers, the performance and demonstration schedules, and other Festival news.
About the 2015 National Folk Festival: Presented by Belkand o-produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and ArtsGreensboro, the National Folk Festival is beginning its three-year residency in downtown Greensboro this year. The FREE, three-day event is America's longest-running festival of traditional arts. nationalfolkfestival.com
About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.
About the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA): The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is one of the nation's premier non-profit cultural organizations dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk, tribal, and ethnic arts in the United States. Founded in 1933, it is the nation's oldest producing and presenting organization with such a focus. Its programs celebrate and honor deeply rooted cultural expressions--music, crafts, stories, and dance passed on through time by families and communities as well as by tribal, ethnic, and occupational groups. The NCTA stresses excellence and authenticity in presenting artists to the public in festivals, tours, concerts, media programs, exhibitions, recordings, and other activities, and works in partnership with communities across American to establish new, sustainable traditional arts events that bring lasting social, cultural, and economic benefits. www.ncta-usa.org
About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, I HEART ARTS Month, power2give, and other initiatives such as the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. www.artsgreensboro.org
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