The three root cultures of Virginia, which are the focus of this program, extend throughout the commonwealth and combine with many others to create the vibrant traditions of contemporary Virginia. From the old-time music gatherings of Galax to the ceremonial Hmong dances of Arlington, from the intricately hand-stitched quilts of the Shenandoah to the duck decoys of the Eastern Shore, the forms of folklife in Virginia are as diverse as the communities that create them.

Since its inception in 1989, the Virginia Folklife Program, a public program of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, has worked to document, present, and support Virginia