PRESS RELEASE: Secretary Byrd Seeks Nominations for Florida Folk Heritage Awards

Tallahassee, Fla. –

Secretary of State Cord Byrd today announced that the Florida Department of State is seeking nominations for the 2024 Florida Folk Heritage Awards. The annual awards recognize individuals who have made exemplary contributions to Florida’s traditional cultures.

“Each year, the Florida Folk Heritage Awards seek to honor and recognize excellence in folk and traditional arts and the community impact of Florida’s tradition bearers,” said Secretary Byrd. “The Florida Folk Heritage Awards highlight our state’s unique cultural heritage by acknowledging distinguished Floridians for their skills and accomplishments in the traditional arts.”

Concepción Poou Coy Tharin with her family, accepting her 2023 Folk Heritage Award.

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

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 January 2024.   

Nominations must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2023, and mailed to: Florida Folklife Program, 500 S Bronough, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. 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 Dominick Tartaglia at 850.245.6780. For guidelines, award policies and previous winners, visit https://dos.myflorida.com/cultural/programs/florida-folklife-program/folk-heritage-awards/.

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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/.