To support job retention and creation through the adaptation of collections and public programming to virtual platforms

FAIN: HC-274956-20

Texas Folklife (Austin, TX 78756-1219)
Charlie Lockwood (Project Director: May 2020 to September 2024)

Retention of five full-time staff and creation of five additional staff and contractor positions to digitize archival collections and to develop map-based online exhibits. 

To support job retention and creation through an adaptation of Texas Folklife’s mission delivery to virtual platforms, ensuring the humanities content of the organization’s collections and programming are accessible to all online. Building on existing efforts, this includes increasing access to digitized archives, digitizing the remainder of collections dating from 1984, staff training in ArcGIS systems, hiring of consultants and student workers, and developing new online exhibit platforms with the appropriate user interface. These efforts will result in a wide swath of materials available to the public free of charge, with a focus on geotagged storymaps allowing for engagement with the folkways of communities across the state. An interactive upload feature will also be established, allowing for public contributions. As a whole, this will translate to virtual mission delivery as well as greater equity and more diverse representation within the record of Texas history and traditions.