In 1966, NCTA founder and long-time director, Sarah Gertrude Knott, articulated the spirit of unity embodied within the National Folk Festival, and felt through a shared love for music and culture expressed by festival goers and artists alike. This was her vision when she conceived the National Folk Festival 90 years ago-and it is a vision that remains to this day.
Audio transcription of Sarah Gertrude Knott:
“We’re trying to revolutionize and change the nation. It seems tremendously important to all of us to help hold these traditional expressions that have gone into the making of the country.
But long about now when we begin to meet just as a national family band of strolling players, we’re not missionaries so much anymore, we’re just set on having a good time as a people of different races and nationalities meet to sing and dance together and forget any racial or national difference - no such thing existing.
“We meet as friends. And we know that the audiences in Colorado will meet with the same spirit, and understand that there is a common bond that binds together. That peoples of all races and all nationalities who now call United States home.”
3 окт 2024
