Mission Statement
The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University is dedicated to the identification, preservation, and perpetuation of our region's rich cultural heritage, through academic studies, educational programs, festivals and performances, and publications. The WV Folklife Center is part of the College of Liberal Arts.
Center Activities
Summer Teacher Institutes in partnership with the West Virginia Humanities Council
Folk Festivals and Summer Celebrations
Fall and Spring Gatherings: Demonstrations, Exhibits, Presentations
Study Abroad Travel Programs: Roads to Appalachia through Scotland and Ireland (2005), Italy (2007), England and Wales (2008), Eastern Europe (2010)
Folklife Center Archives
Various artifact collections have recently been placed in the Folklife Center Archives, and resources to properly process and store these artifacts have been obtained. The Folklife Center at Fairmont State University actively seeks donations of any artifacts that will help interpret West Virginia folklife. This may include photographs, family memorabilia, journals, letters, oral histories and folklore, and any other materials of such nature. Individuals who may want to contribute to this growing collection should contact Dr. Judy P. Byers or Noel W. Tenney at the WV Folklife Center at Fairmont State University.
Affiliations
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Appalachian Studies Association
Assembly on Literature and Culture of Appalachia
Calabria--West Virginia Italian Heritage Association
GEAR-UP
National Storytelling Association
National Council of Teachers of English (Assembly on the Literature and Culture of Appalachia)
Pricketts Fort
Upshur County Historical Society
Vandalia Heritage Foundation--Legacy Program
West Virginia Humanities Council
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia Storytelling Guild and Festival
West Virginia University Press
