Show Me Folk

Missouri Folk Arts program announces inaugural Living Traditions Sustainer Fellows from the Mexico Ledger
The Mexico Ledger, the only daily newspaper published in Mexico, Missouri and the surrounding rural area, announced on May 5, 2023, that local resident Kenny Applebee was an inaugural Living Traditions Sustainer Fellow. Find the…

Carmen Sofia Dence, 2023 Living Traditions Sustainer Fellow
Carmen Sofia Dence, St. Louis, Mo. Colombian Folkloric Dancer, Choreographer, Costume Maker, Founding Director–Grupo Atlántico Carmen Sofia Dence learned to dance as a child in her local barrio (neighborhood) in Barranquilla, Colombia from her mother, her…

From Red Latina Online, “El Programa de Artes Populares de Missouri ha elegido a los ganadores de la Beca Sustainer Fellowship de Missouri Living Traditions inaugural”
Red Latina St. Louis announced on April 28, 2023, that Colombian folkloric dancer Carmen Sofia Dence was an inaugural 2023 Missouri Living Traditions Sustainer Fellow. The online article (in Spanish) is available at this link:…

Kenny Applebee, 2023 Living Traditions Sustainer Fellow
Kenny Applebee, Mexico, Mo. Old-time Rhythm Guitarist Kenny Applebee is widely recognized as a mainstay of old-time music in Missouri. He has “backed” fiddlers on his rhythm guitar for decades at contests, jams, concerts, dances, and…

Missouri Folk Arts Program Announces Inaugural Living Traditions Sustainer Fellows
Missouri Folk Arts Program Announces Inaugural Living Traditions Sustainer Fellows April 24, 2023 COLUMBIA, MO – The Missouri Folk Arts Program has chosen the recipients of the inaugural Missouri Living Traditions Sustainer Fellowship, the state’s…

A Tribute to Bernard Allen (1941-2023)
We’ve learned the sad news yesterday that master luthier Bernard Allen of Naylor, Mo. passed away Sunday, 4/16/2023. Missouri Folk Arts has been honored to work with Mr. Allen many times over the years, first…

The Past and Future of Wyandotte Beadwork, Kim Garcia-Artist Profile by Nathan Lee McAlister
“You’re not going to learn something until you’re ready to learn it.” Kim Garcia Over the last few years, Missouri Folk Arts has collaborated with community documentarians to identify traditional arts regionally; document traditions locally;…

Giving Day Donations welcomed by Missouri Folk Arts
Missouri Folk Arts is thankful to individual donors who have provided unrestricted gift funds that support opportunities for staff and traditional artists beyond those designated in grant-funded projects. Previous examples include artistic fees; travel; fees…

Nominations Closed. GUIDELINES FOR MISSOURI’S NEW LIVING TRADITIONS SUSTAINER FELLOWSHIP!!
2023 Nominations Now Closed Missouri’s Living Traditions Sustainer Fellowship seeks to recognize the artistic excellence and lifetime achievement of living traditional artists in the Show Me State. The fellowships will honor those individuals’ deep-rooted contributions to their…

A visit with an old friend, Lee Ann Sours–Artist Profile by Nathan Lee McAlister
“In the beginning I wasn’t thinking about being a fiber artist. I was just thinking about farming.” Lee Ann Sours Over the last few years, Missouri Folk Arts has collaborated with community documentarians to…