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Education & Assessment

A person playing guitar with several pedals and a DJ behind them.

The Southwest Folklife Alliance applies folklife tools to address questions that matter in people’s lives. Our initiatives move between the intimate and the institutional, asking how cultural knowledge can inform the way we care for one another, educate the next generation, build regional networks, and measure what community-centered work actually accomplishes. The projects described here … Read more

Friends of the Festival

Smiling Vietnamese students wearing blue latex gloves making a "V" and "A" with their hands.

You look forward to it every year. Why not enjoy the food, music and culture of TMY all year around? Tucson Meet Yourself has brought our community together for over 50 years  celebrating the living traditions, foods, music, and stories of the people who call this region home. SFA Members (Friends of the Festival) are the people behind … Read more

Southwest Folklife Alliance

Building community through living traditions Ted Warmbrand at the 2026 Culture Keepers Awards. Photo by Julius Schlosburg. We believe that culture is not a backdrop to community life. Culture helps people make sense of the world, care for one another, and build a shared future. We build more equitable and vibrant communities by celebrating the everyday expressions of … Read more

Media Kit

A Chinese American chef hugs an elder under illuminated pinatas.

Media Contact If you are a member of the media and have questions, please contact:Jocelyn Retamoza GonzvarManaging DirectorJocelyn@SouthwestFolklife.org FAQ coming soon Logos & Images Download Resources recent articles published about SFA “Yaqui Elder is One of Ten Winners of the 2025 Master-Apprentice Artist Awards” Arizona Public Media, December 23, 2025 “Center Launches Heritage in Motion … Read more

Master-Apprentice ARTIST Awardees

A young Native person in a headband is weaving together natural fibers with a piece in their mouth.

The Master-Apprentice Artist Award provides direct financial support for highly skilled traditional and heritage-based artists living in Arizona to pass on their artform, culture, and heritage to apprentice learners. The award is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. More About the Program 2025 award recipients

Volunteers

Two smiling people in sun hats sit at a check in table.

From the 600+ community members who power Tucson Meet Yourself each October to the neighbors, students, and professionals who support our year-round programs, our work is made possible by people who show up with their time, their skills, and their belief that culture matters. Whatever your background, availability, or interest, you can to contribute in … Read more