First Lady Attends Kickoff Event for 73rd National Folk Festival

First Lady Crissy Haslam joins event at Isaiah T. Creswell Arts Magnet Middle School in Nashville

NASHVILLE –First Lady Crissy Haslam attended an “Artists in Schools” event in Nashville for the National Folk Festival in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, sponsored by The Recording Academy. The 73rd Annual National Folk Festival is the oldest and longest-running celebration of traditional music and arts in the nation. The traveling festival is free and will be hosted in Nashville through 2013.

Through the festival’s “Artists in Schools” program, students have the unique opportunity to experience and interact with individual festival artists in an educational setting. The purpose is to expose children and adults alike to different cultures and the musical roots that are growing and being fostered in Nashville and across Tennessee.

“Tennessee has a rich cultural history, and this is a great experience for children to learn more about the arts,” said Mrs. Haslam. “Nashville is fortunate to host the Folk Festival for the next three years, and I hope families will attend the festival over Labor Day weekend.”

The National Folk Festival takes place September 4-6, 2011 at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Governor and First Lady Haslam are Honorary Chairs for the National Folk Festival.