The Regional Folklife Center at The Arts Institute of Middlesex County

What is Folklife?

Folklife refers to art and culture reflective of traditional knowledge and connection to community, often described as “the art of everyday life.”

Folklife at the Arts Institute of Middlesex County

As one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey and the nation, Middlesex County leaders and residents take pride in our multicultural heritage as a pillar of social and economic vitality. Our enduring commitment of over 25 years to free and accessible folklife programming strengthens connections between our region’s diverse communities. It ensures the preservation of our rich traditions, art forms, and lifeways that bridge our past with our present. We support over 100 regional cultural groups, artists, and tradition-bearers. We are proud to serve as a Regional Folklife Center – a project of the Arts Institute of Middlesex County and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Our Activities:

• Public Programs – We present and support a diverse range of public programs, including exhibitions, demonstrations, performances, festivals, workshops, and training for educators. These programs provide opportunities for the public to engage with and learn about our region’s heritage from cultural groups, artists, and tradition-bearers. Click here for a list of Folklife events.
• Research and Fieldwork – Ongoing research and fieldwork are fundamental to our work. We document and share cultural lifeways across Central New Jersey. This research informs our programs and ensures that we accurately represent the traditions of our communities.
• Support for Tradition Bearers – We provide resources and support for folk artists and tradition bearers, ensuring the continuity and transmission of their cultural knowledge and skills.
• Community Engagement – We work to build strong partnerships with local organizations and communities to ensure that our programs and the programs we support are relevant and fully accessible.
• Grantmaking – We provide over $100,000 in funding annually to support folklife programming and festivals organized by local nonprofit organizations and municipalities. Click here for the Grants Application Portal.

Among our recent major initiatives are the Share Your Foodways program and the FolkLIVE series.

Share Your Foodways is a partnership with REPLENISH, Middlesex County’s food assistance network. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Share Your Foodways partners community members and professional chefs to share traditional recipes and food culture, while connecting people with vital resources such as foodbanks. These are done through videos and in-person events. You can find many of these videos here.

FolkLIVE is a cultural festival series launched in 2024 that celebrates the music and traditions of various communities across Middlesex County and Central New Jersey. In 2025, this series of free and affordable festivals will include the Gospel Music Festival, Raritan Native American Celebration Heritage and PowWow, and Mexican Independence Day Festival. Continue to check MiddlesexCountyCulture.com for future updates about this series.

The Regional Folklife Center is one of five Folklife Centers across the state serving New Jersey. Each Center serves a different region and works to develop programming specific to its community’s needs and interests. We encourage you to visit the other centers and explore their offerings.

Our Fellow Regional Folklife Partners:

New Jersey Folklife at Perkins Center

Folklife Center of Northern NJ

Down Jersey Folklife Program

Jersey Shore Folklife Center

Folklife and Cultural Heritage Programs are projects of the Arts Institute of Middlesex County and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.