What do quinceañera celebrations, Trinidadian steelpan music and breakdancing have in common?

What about cigar rolling, Brazilian samba and bluegrass jam sessions? Answer: These cultural traditions are all examples of the South Florida region’s folklife. To learn more about these traditions and more, continue down the page or use the links provided immediately below.

Founded in 1986, the South Florida Folklife Center is a division of HistoryMiami. SFFC is dedicated to documenting, presenting and supporting the region’s traditional arts and culture.

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adult and child with an object in hands

What is Folklife?

Folklife includes various types of expressive traditions, including music, dance, storytelling, handmade objects, foodways and more. Follow the link below for more information.

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HistoryMiami opened the South Florida Folklife Gallery in June 2014. On display is a selection of communal, familial, occupational, and religious folk crafts and objects from a variety of cultural groups…

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folk life gallery

man leaning on a carved wooden canoe

Artist-in-Residence Series

The Heritage Spotlight Series is an annual artist-in-residence program that highlights Miami-area traditional artists and cultures. Participating artists share their art through performances, workshops, and other public events.

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Miami Stories

The Miami Stories initiative collects stories about Miami’s past, present, and future. Through this oral history project, HistoryMiami Museum documents life in the Magic City through both written submissions and audio recordings, which are preserved in the museum’s archive, and shared online and through local media outlets.

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Folklore dancer

Highlighted Projects

Since its founding in 1986, the South Florida Folklife Center has conducted various field research projects. These projects have lead to the creation of educational products, including research reports…

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Folklife Resources

To learn more about folklife, view our list of links to folklife resources in Florida and across the United States.

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beads artifact

South Florida Folklife Videos