Louisiana’s Regional Folklife Program is a cooperative endeavor between Louisiana universities and the Louisiana Folklife Program within the Division of the Arts. The goal is to provide in-depth documentation of Louisiana’s folk traditions and to facilitate its appropriate use by the public and cultural tourism. Through grants to the universities, the Division of the Arts provides funds for a folklorist in each section of the state.
Dr. Susan Roach, the regional folklorist at Louisiana Tech University, serves Region 1, which includes the northeast delta parishes and the northcentral hill parishes.
What is Folklore?
The living traditions, or folklore, currently practiced and passed along by word of mouth, imitation, and observation over time and space within groups, such as family, ethnic, social class, regional, and others. Everyone and every group has folklore.
Folklorists:
• Identify, document, and archive research on folk traditions and artists.
• Work with community groups to present their folk traditions to the public.
• Provide information about folklife through media coverage, university lectures, and public presentations.
