In this podcast, I sit down with Kelsey Bearden Eagan, the first Executive Director of the Folk School. The Folk School has been around for 25-30 years, its not certain how long, but they have been operating in a loosely structured manner with volunteers. Recently, they have formalized a lot of their organization structure, where the first step was to hire an Executive Director.
When I ask around, not too many people knew what The Folk School was, which would naturally lead them to engage in a PR campaign so people in the community know who they are and what they do. Those who are associated with it as a student, instructor, or a volunteer speak very highly of it and of their experience. In reality, The Folk School is an incredible Fairbanks institution, full of really friendly, talented people from a broad range of backgrounds. It’s a non-profit collective that teaches lots of arts, traditional crafts, outdoor skills of all kinds, building and crafting skills such as carpentry, blacksmithing, tool maintenance, etc. A place like a folk school provides a venue to share what you know and pass lifetimes of knowledge through generations. All are welcome, all ages are welcome and no prerequisites are required unless one is taking an advance segment of a class. The Folk School offers classes and programs for all ages in a wide variety of hands-on disciplines including: traditional crafts, woodworking, fiber arts, boat building, wilderness skills, visual arts, music, farming, gardening, food preservation, log construction, and so much more!
Take a listen and learn more about this fantastic organization. Perhaps you will also get inspired to take a class or two!