Secretary Detzner Seeks Nominations for Florida Folk Heritage Awards

TALLAHASSEE, Fla –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner today announced that the Florida Department of State is seeking nominations for the 2018 Florida Folk Heritage Awards. The annual awards recognize individuals who have made exemplary contributions to Florida’s traditional culture.

“The Florida Folk Heritage Awards annually recognize artistic excellence and community impact in the realm of folk and traditional arts and honor our most influential tradition bearers,” said Secretary Detzner. “We are pleased to honor the distinguished Floridians whose skills and accomplishments in the traditional arts affirm our state’s cultural legacy and unique heritage.”

TThe 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Award recipients (l-r) Marilia Carrasquillo & David Peñaflor, photo by Amanda Hardeman; Haiqiong Deng, photo courtesy of Deng; William Emerson, photo by Jeff Klinkenburg and Willie Green, photo by Peter Willot.

Folklife includes a wide range of creative forms such as art, crafts, dance, language, music and ritual. These cultural traditions are transmitted by word of mouth and demonstration, and are shared within community, ethnic, occupational, religious and regional groups. Nominees should be individuals whose art or advocacy has embodied the best of traditional culture in their communities.

How to Submit a Nomination

Nominations should describe the accomplishments and background of the nominee, and explain why he or she deserves statewide recognition for preserving a significant facet of the state’s cultural heritage. Supporting materials such as photographs, slides, audio-visual samples and letters will assist the state’s Florida Folklife Council in evaluating nominees. Each nomination also requires at least two letters of support from community members, colleagues, peers, cultural specialists or any other individuals who can confirm the details of the nomination and attest to the nominee's qualifications. Award recipients will be announced in February 2018.  

Nominations must be postmarked no later than October 1, 2017 and mailed to: Florida Folklife Program, Bureau of Historic Preservation, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250. Nominations can also be emailed to [email protected].

For more information about the Florida Folk Heritage Awards, or the Florida Folklife Program, contact State Folklorist Amanda Hardeman at 850.245.6427. For guidelines, award policies and previous winners, visit www.flheritage.com/preservation/florida-folklife-program/folk-heritage-awards/.

2017 Awardees

The 2017 Florida Folk Heritage Awards honored one couple and three individuals who have made significant contributions to Florida’s folk cultural heritage. The awardees included Latin American cultural advocates Marilia Carrasquillo & David Peñaflor of Orange County, traditional Chinese musician Haiqiong Deng of Leon County, rhythm and blues and rock ‘n roll recording artist William Emerson of Pinellas County and blues musician Willie Green of Marion County.

 # # #

About the Florida Folklife Program

The Florida Folklife Program, a component of the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources, documents and presents Florida’s folklife, folklore and folk arts. The program coordinates a wide range of activities and projects designed to increase the awareness of Floridians and visitors alike about Florida’s traditional culture. Established in 1979 by the legislature to document and present Florida folklife, this program is one of the oldest state folk arts programs in the nation. The Florida Folklife Program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Folk and Traditional Arts Program. For more information about Florida folklife, visit www.flheritage.com/preservation/florida-folklife-program/.