Recipients of the Heritage Awards range from internationally acclaimed musicians to folks who quietly practice their art in rural and family settings.
The Award ceremonies are a notable celebration and educational event for North Carolinians, drawing large and enthusiastic audiences.
From the Award’s beginning, the Folklife Program of the North Carolina Arts Council engaged talented photographers — Rob Amberg, Cedric N. Chatterley, Mary Anne McDonald, Roger Haile and Bill Bamberger — to document the artistry of award recipients.
[2] Their images and the program book articles celebrate and commemorate the skills, values, aesthetics, and meaning of traditional arts in North Carolina.
The Folk Heritage Award recipients from 1989–1996 are also featured in a special issue of the North Carolina Folklore Journal.