The OREGON CULTURE KEEPERS ROSTER is an online juried selection of excellent folk and traditional artists and cultural experts documented through our regional surveys and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP). Those included preserve and present Oregon’s diverse heritage for a variety of audiences.
This curated Roster features only those with strong cultural ties to their traditional art forms and for their commitment and ability to preservation and perpetuation of those cultural forms. They must demonstrate excellent craftsmanship and the ability to be successful in sharing those through public demonstrations, performances, and presentations.
Since the inception of OFN in 2010, our funders have encouraged us to start our documentation process with Oregon’s most underserved regions and peoples. At present, we have culture keepers from the following counties and Tribes as well as TAAP master artists from a few more: Klamath, Lake, Harney, Malheur, Hood River, Wasco, Jefferson, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla as well as with the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the Burns Paiute Tribe. As we complete more fieldwork around Oregon, we’ll be expanding the Roster.
Our process is careful and time-consuming, starting with grant writing, then fieldwork, then curation, then uploading data. By December 2016, we’ll have culture keepers from the eastern Oregon counties of Union, Wallowa, Baker, Grant, Wheeler, Crook and Deschutes. By December 2017, we plan to have culture keepers from the Portland Metro area (Washington, Multnomah, Yamhill, Columbia, and Clackamas counties.
Interested in applying to be on the Roster?
- First, make sure what you do fits OFN’s definition for a culture keeper and/or folk artist: What is Folklife. We prefer the broader term culture keeper, since not everyone considers him/herself an artist, e.g. traditional cooks and bakers, saddle and gear makers, and such.
- Second, fill out and send in the application form and all required work samples.
The OFN recommends that artists/culture keepers receive a fee of at least $250 plus travel expenses.
The OFN does not serve as a booking agent, so please contact artists directly.
Search by name, heritage, county, or keyword to find
- highly skilled traditional artists for your classroom,
- storytellers for your library event,
- cultural experts for your humanities program,
- performers for your festival stage, or
- craft artists for demonstrations.
Check back often—we regularly add new folk and traditional artists!
Special thanks to the Oregon Cultural Trust for funding for the Oregon Culture Keepers Roster. Additional support for this work comes from the Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the University of Oregon.
