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Community Development And Participation

Cityfolk, Dayton

Nominated By: East End Community Services Corporation

As Ohio's only full-time presenter of traditional arts, Cityfolk has been connecting Miami Valley residents to their heritage and the traditions of their neighbors for the past 27 years. Each year Cityfolk's programs provide thousands of people with the opportunity to experience high quality arts activities in their own community, free and open to the public. The free Cityfolk Festival offers residents throughout Ohio access to the finest artists from around the world, including Grammy winners, recipients of National Heritage Fellowship Awards, and the Ohio Heritage Fellowships, created in conjunction with the Ohio Arts Council. Bringing thousands of diverse people together each summer, the annual Cityfolk Festival encourages them to share experiences and learn from one another. This downtown festival has inspired development of community spirit among east Dayton residents year-round. Three years ago the East End Community Services Corporation began a partnership with Cityfolk through the Culture Builds Community (CBC) program to encourage the growth of this spirit. Cityfolk has brought artists representing the cultural heritage of Dayton's Appalachian, African-American, Hispanic and Middle Eastern residents into community centers, churches, schools and public spaces for interactive and participatory activities as part of an effort to use the traditional arts to bridge racial, ethnic and cultural divisions within the diverse community. Through community arts residencies, musicians, artists and dancers from Africa, Asia, South America, Europe and across America, Cityfolk has helped Dayton's residents learn about their own cultural traditions and, more importantly, about those of their neighbors. By sharing the artistic expressions of diverse cultures, the eyes of community members have begun opening to what makes each person unique and what brings neighbors closer together. The CBC program also has made participation in the arts accessible to many who would not otherwise be able to afford these experiences. The community has been intimately involved in the planning of the CBC residencies from the start, providing a sense of pride and ownership. Cityfolk strives to create new opportunities to use the arts as a tool for positive changes in the community.

Cityfolk video tribute (5:54 minutes)