MISSION

The American Folklore Society is a membership organization dedicated to supporting the individuals and organizations engaged in the study and advancement of folklore and expressive cultural traditions throughout the world. AFS serves its members and the general public by providing programming, publications, policies, and resources examining and affirming the diversity of human creativity across time, heritages, and places.

The American Folklore Society (AFS) is firmly committed to welcoming all who wish to honor and study expressive cultural traditions. Our guiding framework includes our mission and vision, our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and our history.

VISION

The American Folklore Society (AFS) embraces an inclusive view of cultural creativity, advocating for respect and mutual understanding of the world’s diverse cultures as well as for the conditions that enable communities and traditions to flourish.

AFS examines artful communication across boundaries of time, distance, and identity, studying expressive life as both an end in itself and a multifaceted resource in social worlds.

AFS educates the public and policymakers with the field’s distinctive view into societal concerns, amplifying the insights of both folklore and folklorists.

The AFS draws upon its engagement with vibrant expressive life to nurture the broader values of cultural equity, democratic process, and the defense of human rights.

Learn more about the American Folklore Society at https://americanfolkloresociety.org