A cultural heritage festival presents activities and events related to a community’s sense of identity, or that which makes the community unique. Heritage festivals often incorporate one or more of these three elements:
Local heritage festivals may decide to focus on one of these elements, or include components of all three. Festival planners should inform their decision based on their answer to this fundamental question: What should the audience understand and appreciate about this community?
An understanding of the audience, and what the audience should learn, is an essential first step in organizing a successful heritage festival. The three components listed above can provide very different messages to visitors. For example, history focuses on the past, while folklife conveys ongoing traditions and present-day culture. Clarity and organization of components ensure that the festival visitors’ experience is both educational and entertaining. The audience has the best possible festival experience when they encounter informative signage, effective site layout, and clearly-defined areas. We hope this website will help you learn more about how you can incorporate one or more of these components into your festival and provide you with access to resources which will help you celebrate your community! |
Festival Support InformationKentucky Artisan Heritage Trails
This website is presented by Arts Kentucky, a statewide membership organization providing resources and tools to people who are working to improve their communities through the arts. Visit us at www.artsky.org or contact us at: Phone: 877.561.0701 (tollfree) E-Mail: info@artsky.org
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 This project is supported in part by an award from the
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| Funding for this project has also been provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, with additional support from Arts Kentucky, Appalachian Heritage Highways, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, Kentucky Folklife Program and the Kentucky Department of Travel/Cultural Heritage Tourism | |
