Lora Bottinelli

Executive Director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) Lora Bottinelli joins me to talk about the central place of traditional art and traditional artists in the American experience.  The many cultures and traditions that shape us a people are a strength that we can lean on as we get to the other side of the pandemic.  This is a bedrock belief of the NCTA--the nation’s oldest producing and presenting organization focused on folk and traditional arts.  As Lora notes, the grassroots nature of traditional arts—so deeply rooted in community— “can prove to be a powerful force to positive change for the country.”  Lora also discusses the ongoing work of the NCTA as it works closely with traditional artists across the country and the profound impact of the pandemic on traditional arts which thrive on community interaction. But, Lora also notes, these art forms and cultural practices have survived many upheavals in society, and she shares some interesting and creative pivots made by artists and organizations, including the NCTA, that speak to this moment.