Northwest Folklife creates opportunities for all to celebrate, share, and participate in the evolving cultural traditions of the pacific northwest.
Northwest Folklife stands for the belief that the arts invigorate and revitalize interpersonal connections and sense of community. When people share aspects of their culture, opportunities are created to dissolve misunderstandings, break down stereotypes, and increase respect for one another. Exposure to world cultures and the creativity of folks as a big neighborhood resonates for people of all ages, throughout their lives.
Participatory arts practices bridge boundaries of race, class, and ethnicity. Unique among all festivals, the heart of Northwest Folklife and our festivals is the community outreach, inclusion, and collaboration that transpires all year.
By preserving cultural heritage we promote its evolution. Everyone is a bearer of folk arts; and participation in the arts is as important as observing them.
We believe that inspiring kids’ cultural intelligence will create a kinder world, strong communities, and smarter kids.
Northwest Folklife relies on the diverse communities of the pacific northwest to inspire programs and collaborates with these communities to develop public presentations of their arts and culture. We see that interaction with new audiences enriches presenting communities and artists as much as the audience.