The Oregon Folklife Network (OFN) is the State of Oregon’s official Folk & Traditional Arts Program. Headquartered at the University of Oregon, the OFN is housed at the Knight Library and lives administratively in Academic Extension. Although the OFN became a part of the University in 2010, Oregon has long had a public folklife program, which was based for many years at Lewis and Clark College and then at the Oregon Historical Society.

With our charge to educate the next generation of public folklorists, OFN staff members, Riki Saltzman (Executive Director) and Emily West Afanador (Program Manager), encourage student involvement in our mission to make a meaningful difference in Oregon communities and Tribes by documenting, supporting, and celebrating our diverse cultural traditions and by empowering tradition-bearers. We have a wide range of possibilities for involvement, including internships, practica, and fieldwork opportunities.

The Oregon Folklife Network continues collaborations at Grand Ronde (language/basket apprenticeship) and Warm Springs (digitization of audio collections), management of Oregon’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, and the development of our relationships with Operational Partners (Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Humanities, and the Oregon State Library) and our UO Academic Partners (Folklore Program, Arts and Administration, and Special Collections and University Archives).

Keep up with OFN happenings on Facebook and Twitter, and watch our website for updates on such projects as the McKenzie River Interpretive Center, Arts in the Parks, the Culture and Education Alliance in the Eugene/Springfield area, and the Self-Documentation Tool Kit.

To be a part of our efforts to nurture Oregon’s diverse cultural heritage, please consider a tax-deductible contribution to the Oregon Folklife Network Fund.