Vermont Folklife Center Summer Institute 2022

Think Like an Ethnographer this Summer! 

Curious about how to launch a community-led interview project? Looking to sharpen your investigative skills? Interested in digital media production and cultural documentation?

The 2022 Vermont Folklife Center (VFC) Summer Institute is presented in three modules this year with in-person and remote options. Each of these course offerings is focused on a specific aspect of the cultural documentation process as practiced by the VFC. The courses can stand alone but also complement each other; two or three of the courses taken together would provide a well-rounded overview of the workflow of an ethnographically informed documentation project. There is also an option to earn one credit per course through Castleton University.

• Documenting Everyday Life (in-person in Brattleboro, VT) -- July 6 and 7, 2022
  This workshop presents the foundations of what we at the VFC refer to as the “ethnographic toolkit.” Capturing the scope of everyday life through deep listening, description, and cultural documentation is a part of how ethnography builds context. These tools can be used by anyone looking to engage with individuals and communities to reach a deeper understanding about how we live and live together.
   
• Community Driven Media Making (online only) -- July 25 - Aug 4, 2022
  What impact does sharing a documentary audio story, oral history, or other multimedia have on the individuals or communities represented within that medium? With a specific focus on audio production, this two-week online course is for anyone interested in using digital media and community interviewing as tools for social engagement and change.
   
• Teaching with Primary Sources: Vermont Farming and Foodways (in-person in St. Albans, VT) -- July 21 and 22, 2022
  In this free workshop for educators, participants will explore VT Folklife oral history recordings focused on the role that farmers play in Vermont’s history and identity and discover how these primary sources offer a window into experiences often hidden from the public. Participants will be introduced to curated primary source sets and application strategies and activities for middle and high school learners, including how to bring in digital resources from the Library of Congress.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.vermontfolklifecenter.org/summer-institute