Mission

The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society (AFMDS) creates opportunities for individuals and communities in the Athens and North Georgia region to celebrate, share and sustain the vitality of folk, ethnic and traditional arts and music for present and future generations. AFMDS carries out its mission in a variety of ways, most notably through its monthly Contradance and Hoot and the annual production of the North Georgia Folk Festival.

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Core Values

The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society describes its core values as follows:

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• The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society believes that the arts revitalize people and communities. AFMDS is dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage and its continued growth and development.

• The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society understands that everyone is a bearer of folk arts and that it is as important to participate in the arts as it is to observe them.

• The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society encourages communities to share their cultural arts believing that interaction with new audiences enriches the community as much as the audience. When people share aspects of their culture, opportunities are created to dissolve misunderstandings, break down stereotypes and increase respect for one another.

• The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society dedicates a significant portion of its efforts to community service and outreach through free monthly performances at area elder-care facilities.

• The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society relies on the diverse communities of the Athens and North Georgia region to inspire programs. AFMDS collaborates with these communities to develop public presentations of their culture.

 

The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 corporation and is registered with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia.