Kentucky Historical Society
Public Invited to Participate in Community Scholars Workshop

Frankfort, KY - The Kentucky Folklife Program has openings for its next Community Scholars workshop. This free, six- session workshop will be split between two locations. On Saturdays, April 14, April 28, and May 12, sessions will be held at the Taylor County Extension Office in Campbellsville. On Saturdays, May 19, June 9, and June 23, sessions will be held at the Washington County Extension Office in Springfield. All sessions are 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the history and culture of their family and their community is invited to participate. Community Scholars collect and preserve local history, identify and document community traditions, and present these traditions to the public. Participants will learn the basic skills needed to help their communities explore and showcase local talent, folk traditions, and history.

“These individuals are rich cultural resources,” says Bob Gates, director of the Kentucky Folklife Program. “They are trained to study and document the community’s diverse heritage and present it to the public through local programs and events.”

Past participants representing history and cultural organizations, tourism, festivals, and educational programs have used these skills to establish community partnerships, obtain grant funding, and better present local traditions to the public.

This Community Scholar workshop opportunity is being held in conjunction with the Kentucky Crossroads Rural Heritage Development Initiative program and Kentucky Heritage Council. To register or for more information, contact Sarah Milligan at 502.564.1792, ext. 4434. Registration is limited to 12 participants, and the cost for the entire workshop series is $35 per participant.

The Community Scholars Program is administered by the Kentucky Folklife Program, an interagency program of the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council.

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An agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future. KHS operates the Old State Capitol, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and its headquarters, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Since 1999, the thirty-million- dollar Center has welcomed more than one million visitors. For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit our Web site at www.history.ky.gov.