Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to Sponsor Stage at National Folk Festival

One of seven outdoor performance venues,
the Lawn Stage will host daytime performances

Greensboro, N.C., July 22, 2015  — The National Folk Festival announced today that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) will sponsor the Lawn Stage at the 2015 Festival, which will feature 300 artists on seven stages over three days in downtown Greensboro from September 11 – 13, 2015. The three-day Festival is FREE to the public.

The Lawn Stage is an intimate venue that will allow audience members to sit on the grass behind Elon Law School on Commerce Place at Bellemeade Street. Festivalgoers can enjoy a variety of artists on this stage over the weekend from noon to 6 pm on September 12 and September 13.

“We are thrilled to announce that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is channeling its passion for the citizens of our state by championing the 2015 National Folk Festival,” said ArtsGreensboro President and CEO Tom Philion. “By investing in the Lawn Stage, BCBSNC will provide an opportunity for thousands of audience members to enjoy performances by many of our nation’s most respected traditional artists.”

“Folk music is an expression of the rich history and culture in our state,” said Kathy Higgins, vice president of corporate affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. “The National Folk Festival is an opportunity for North Carolina to host people from around the country so they can gather and enjoy music traditions that have been passed down for generations in our own communities.”

Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, puppeteers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will appear during the National Folk Festival, with at least 30 different individuals and groups performing on the Lawn Stage and six other outdoor performance venues throughout downtown Greensboro.
More than 20 National Folk Festival performers have been announced to date, with further announcements scheduled throughout the summer. Visit NationalFolkFestival.com for updates and information on all performers.

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.91 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. We have been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute every year since 2012. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
About the 2015 National Folk Festival: Co-produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) and ArtsGreensboro, the National Folk Festival is beginning its three-year residency in downtown Greensboro this year, when it will celebrate its 75th anniversary from September 11 – 13, 2015. The FREE, three-day event is America’s longest-running festival of traditional arts; it will highlight both long-standing traditions and the heritage and culture of North Carolina’s newest immigrant groups, and set the stage for a continuing and permanent North Carolina Folk Festival, beginning in 2018, after the “National” moves on.

Belk is the presenting sponsor of the 2015 Festival. With downtown Greensboro as the backdrop, audiences will enjoy seven stages featuring continuous musical entertainment—from rockabilly to old-time to mariachi, and from funk to Cajun to jazz. Attendees will also be able to dance non-stop to a variety of musical genres at the dance pavilion; dine on regional and ethnic foods; experience folk art demonstrations and performances by N.C. artists; and share the fun of the Family Activities Area with their children. nationalfolkfestival.com

About the National Folk Festival: Since it was first presented in St. Louis in 1934, the National Folk Festival has celebrated the roots, richness, and variety of American culture. Championed in its early years by Eleanor Roosevelt, it was the first event of national stature to present the arts of many nations, races, and languages on equal footing. It was also the first to present to the public musical forms such as the blues, Cajun music, polka bands, Tex-Mex conjunto, Peking Opera, and many others. An exuberant traveling festival that embraces the diverse cultural expressions of the American people in the 21st century, the National Folk Festival is FREE to the public, and is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with communities around the country.

About the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA): The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is one of the nation’s premier non-profit cultural organizations dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk, tribal, and ethnic arts in the United States. Founded in 1933, it is the nation’s oldest producing and presenting organization with such a focus. Its programs celebrate and honor deeply rooted cultural expressions—music, crafts, stories, and dance passed on through time by families and communities as well as by tribal, ethnic, and occupational groups. The NCTA stresses excellence and authenticity in presenting artists to the public in festivals, tours, concerts, media programs, exhibitions, recordings, and other activities, and works in partnership with communities across American to establish new, sustainable traditional arts events that bring lasting social, cultural, and economic benefits. www.ncta-usa.org


About ArtsGreensboro: With an annual budget of approximately $4 million, ArtsGreensboro is a catalyst for innovation to build recognition and support for the arts. Through the 17DAYS Arts & Culture Festival, I HEART ARTS Month, power2give, and other initiatives such as the National Folk Festival, ArtsGreensboro is driving the health and vitality of our community by supporting arts education, celebrating the diversity of Greensboro, and driving economic impact through excellence in arts programming. www.artsgreensboro.org"

- A Press Release

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