Wendy Rawlins holds a hand carved purse created in Oregon's Traditional Arts Apprentice Program, 2009.
From 1977-2009, statewide services supporting folklife and traditional arts in Oregon were provided under the aegis of several organizations, first through the Oregon Arts Commission, then Lewis and Clark College, and then the Oregon Historical Society. The Oregon Folklife Program, within the Oregon Historical Society, ceased program operations in June 2009. Although the Oregon Folklife Program struggled, it was known for the leadership of its professional folklorists who planned and implemented high quality programs across the state.
In Fall 2009, the Arts Commission contracted with consultant Bill Flood, to facilitate a planning process to consider options for a new and sustainable system for providing folklife services in Oregon. That process, aimed at developing a new folklife support system that is innovative in how it draws upon and knits together Oregon’s folklife stakeholders and folklife assets, it's current in its approach, and demonstrates clear strategies for sustainable financial support, resulted in the development of a plan for a new Oregon Folklife Network, located at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
