The sandy spring museum's regional folklife center will collaborate with local folk artists and their communities to sustain and advance the folk arts of montgomery county, maryland

The Sandy Spring Museum's Regional Folklife Center was awarded a $492,031 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Museums for America program to collaborate with local folk artists and communities in Montgomery County, Maryland to sustain and advance folk arts. Through its MocoLore traditional arts series and integration of 130 folk artists into major annual events, the majority of whom are BIPOC and immigrant community members, the museum will educate the public about each partner community's history and culture. The museum will also provide its digital folklife lab and library resources as well as administrative and economic support services to partnering artists. The project aims to build capacity for underserved folk artists and organizations and promote greater social cohesion among county residents. The completion date for this award is August 31, 2025.

In partnership with specific artists and communities, the museum will organize mocolore, a traditional arts series to educate the public about each community's history and culture. The museum will also integrate 130 folk artists, the majority of whom are bipoc (black, indigenous, and people of color) and immigrant community members, into four of its most-attended annual events. Partnering artists will receive free use of the museum's digital folklife lab and library, as well as administrative and economic support services. The project is designed to build the capacity of underserved folk artists and folk arts organizations and generate a greater degree of social cohesion among montgomery county's residents.