American Friends of Russian Folklore
Expeditions and Scholarships
www.russianfolklorefriends.org

The mission of the American Friends of Russian Folklore (AFRF) is to support and promote American understanding of Russian traditional life and culture. To this end, AFRF supports a wide range of projects: field research, recordings, filmmaking, archiving, and analysis of Russian folklore and oral histories. We also support educational and cultural presentations at universities, conferences, and festivals.

For 2008 we announce two expeditions.

One expedition will take place in Irkutsk province, Zima district, Batama village from June, 25 till July, 14. This project aims to preserve the masterpieces of folkloric musical traditions, rituals, mythological stories and oral history of the European peoples (Ukrainians) who pioneered Siberia more than 100 hundred years ago in accordance with the Stolypin Land Reform.

The second expedition will take place in Ukraine, Zhitomir province, Volodar-Volynskii district, Krapivnya village from July, 23 till August, 4. One hundred years ago an essential part of the population from this village moved out to Siberia with the hope of creating a better economic life for their families. 50 families from Krapivnya settled in Siberia a new village, named Batama. We plan to compare the folk music repertoire of both of these villages and to investigate the affects of time and geography on the dynamics of musical traditions.

Scholarship:

Through the generosity of friends and donors, Russian Expedition also administers a Scholarship Fund to pay the way of volunteers whose special strengths or interests make them exceptional candidates for participation but who can not afford the usual fee. This scholarship is available to American and Canadian students only. Knowledge of Russian is preferable. Students who do not speak Russian but have a deep interest in folklore may apply for this scholarship also.

The deadline for applications is April, 1, 2008.