Richmond Folk Festival in the Schools

The Richmond Folk Festival fills auditoriums and classrooms at Richmond-area schools with performances and presentations of deeply rooted cultural expressions, shared by some of the country’s finest traditional artists. These programs not only expose children to performances by excellent artists; they also provide them with opportunities to learn about new cultures, communities, and artistic traditions, expanding their horizons with interactive, multicultural learning experiences. Often these outreach programs reach students who have limited access to cultural enrichment opportunities.

In 2023, the Festival launched a new collaboration, as Chicago-based blues musician Melody Angel visited the State Farm Correctional Center, where she performed and shared a musical collaboration with the inmates there. Learn more about this outreach program by viewing this 2023 recap video from The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

These programs are made possible through the generous support of the festival’s sponsors, especially its school shows partner, JAMinc, who provides transportation, audio support, and local on-site coordination.

Artists who participated in 2023:

• Genticorum (Québécois)

• Grupo Mono Blanco (son jarocho)

• Helobung (traditional Tboli music and dance)

• Kala Ramnath (Hindustani violin)

• Melody Angel (Chicago blues)

• Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas (zydeco)

• Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights (quelbe music)

schools who participated in 2023:

• Albert Hill Middle School

• Francis W. McClenney Elementary School

• Henry Marsh Elementary School

• Miles Jones Elementary School

• River City Middle School

• Virgie Binford Education Center

• Westover Hills Elementary School

• William Fox Elementary School

• Woodville Elementary School