How does the State help preserve traditional arts?
The folk and traditional arts are rooted in the cultural life of a community. Community members may share a common ethnic heritage, cultural mores, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. Their artistic traditions are shaped by values and standards of excellence that are passed from generation to generation through demonstration, conversation, and practice. Each generation builds on the core but keeps the core traditions. Genres of artistic activity include music, dance, crafts, oral expression, and more.
With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Connecticut Office of the Arts partners with the Connecticut Historical Society to support the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program (CCHAP).
CCHAP provides a range of programs and services that support folk and traditional arts across Connecticut.
- Fieldwork is conducted to locate and interview and document traditional artists and cultural communities.
- Projects feature traditional artists through exhibits, performances, demonstrations, radio broadcasts, etc. CCHAP public events provide opportunities for audiences to interact directly with a wide range of communities and their artists.
- Documentation, accessible to the public, is available in the CCHAP archive and includes images and recordings from over 25 years of fieldwork.
- Technical assistance for artists. CCHAP connects traditional artists with appropriate resources.
- Education for public audiences and traditional artists are offered. Offerings include workshops, panel discussions, school programs, training sessions and the Southern New England Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.
COA further supports fieldwork through our Folk & Traditional Arts Community Impact Coordinator program which partners with our DRSO network. COA currently has a coordinator placed with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and the Cultural Coalition.