named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Consultancies
Short-term mentoring engagements (up to 5 days) offering technical assistance in areas such as fieldwork, artist management, exhibition planning, and documentation for individuals and organizations in the folk arts field
Folk Artist Mentoring
Facilitates short-term mentorship opportunities where master folk artists advise other artists on specific traditional art forms, distinct from formal apprenticeships
Mentoring and Professional Development Program
Provides free technical assistance, consultancies, and travel support for folklorists, traditional artists, and cultural organizations in New York State to enhance professional skills and program delivery
Professional Development Exchanges
Supports travel within New York State or the region for folk artists and folklorists to attend conferences, observe exemplary programs, and engage with colleagues for skill development
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Administer grant and funding programs for folk arts initiativesFunds folk arts residencies in New York State schools, supports graduate student internships in folk arts, and directs membership fees to support folk arts in education. Secured over $600,000 in grants from the New York State Council on the Arts to support traditional artists and cultural projects.
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Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
- Deliver direct folk arts programming and public eventsOrganizes public programs such as the annual New York State Folk Arts Roundtable, community block party workshops (e.g., kite making, drumming), and cultural exhibitions (e.g., Haitian Vodou altar pieces). Also runs the Folk Artists in the Classroom program, pairing teaching artists with educators.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Operate a youth orchestra program with free music instructionRuns a year-round youth orchestra program for participants aged 9 to 19 in Albany, providing free music instruction and instruments.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Produce and publish scholarly and public-facing content on folkloreProduces and publishes a peer-reviewed journal and books on folklife and folklore, including the biannual Voices publication series featuring research-based articles, interviews, essays, folk poetry, music, photography, and artwork. Regular columns cover foodways, legal and ethical issues, and documentation practices.
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Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
- Promote and publish New York State folklore practicesProduces publications and public programs that showcase the traditional arts, cultural heritage, and lived folklore experiences of New York State, including open-call art exhibits like Everybody’s Art at Headwaters Arts Center.
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Corporate Sponsorship Programs 1 activity
- Provide member benefits and network supportOffers members a subscription to the Voices publication, publicizes events by Partner-level members via email and social media, and provides membership discounts to affiliated individuals.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Provide technical assistance and professional development for folk artists and cultural organizationsOffers technical assistance, mentoring, workshops, and professional development training to folk and traditional artists, community-based cultural organizations, and cultural workers in New York State. Support includes travel funding, short-term consultancies, and virtual or in-person convenings.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Support folk artist career development and entrepreneurshipRuns the Artists as Entrepreneur Micro-Enterprise Program, providing one-on-one support to help folk artists build sustainable careers in the arts marketplace.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$856K
Contributions & grants$740K86%
Program service revenue$100K12%
Investment income$170%
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$760K
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$226K
Grants paid out$168K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$207K
Cash$25K
Investments$0
Liabilities$40K
Net assets$167K
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +13.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen McHale | Executive Director | 40 | $72K |
board members · 13
- Aaron Paige — Secretary
- Camilla Ammirati — Director
- Evelyn D'Agostion-Sasso — Director
- Hayden Haynes — Director
- James Hall — Treasurer
- Mackenzie Kwok — Director
- Mira Johnson — Director
- Nada Odeh — Vice President
- Sandra AM Bell — Director
- TC Owens — Director
- Violet Baron — Director
- Wildredo Morel — President
- Will Walker — Director
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- City Lore Partner — Collaborates or shares archival resources, as indicated by an article titled "A Visit to City Lore’s Archives".
- Local Learning: The National Network for Folk Arts in Education Partner — Receives financial support from Edith Cutting Folklore in Education membership fees and shares event and publication updates with members.
- Local Learning: the National Network for Folk Arts in Education Partner — Collaborates on the Folk Artists in the Classroom program to connect folk artists with educators.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided funding for the Miwa Ginen exhibit with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Partnered with New York Folklore to distribute grant funding for folk and traditional arts across New York State.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary funder and collaborator in providing professional assistance for folk and traditional arts in New York State.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides Regrants and Services grant funding that supports the Folk Arts in Education Residencies program.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supports the Mentoring and Professional Development Program and provides Folk Arts guidelines that inform program eligibility and scope.
- SUNY Albany Partner — Hosts the editor of Voices at SALS.edu email domain, indicating institutional collaboration.
- Schenectady County Initiative Program Funder — Provided funding for the Miwa Ginen exhibit.
- Schenectady Foundation Partner — Provided support for a kite making and kite flying workshop at a community block party in collaboration with New York Folklore.
- Zorkie Nelson Partner — Master drummer and leader of the Schenectady Youth Orchestra, providing cultural instruction in traditional African music.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advancing Accessible and Scholarly Folklore Knowledgemethodology: accessible_scholarshipBy publishing peer-reviewed research and practitioner voices in an accessible format, the organization strengthens the field of folklore because bridging academic rigor with public engagement expands understanding, preserves knowledge, and democratizes access to cultural scholarship.
- Capacity Building through Mentorship and Technical Assistancemethodology: mentorship-based_capacity_buildingBy providing mentoring and technical assistance from experienced professionals and traditional artists, the organization strengthens the professional capacity and sustainability of folk artists and cultural practitioners, because peer-to-peer knowledge transfer and individualized support build practical skills and resilience in traditional arts practice.
- Community-Centered Cultural Sustainabilitymethodology: cultural_self-determinationBy centering the voices, self-determination, and lived experience of cultural communities in programming, publishing, and partnerships, the organization sustains folklore traditions because authentic community ownership increases cultural relevance, trust, and long-term engagement.
- Integrating Folk Arts into Education through Community-Expert Partnershipsmethodology: folk-arts-in-educationBy pairing teaching artists with educators and using culturally rooted models like the Pan African Youth Orchestra, the organization embeds folk arts in education because direct engagement with tradition bearers and community-led pedagogy strengthens youth identity, cultural continuity, and educational relevance.