Partnership for Russian, East European & Eurasian Folklore
We support and promote American understanding of Russian, Eurasian, and East European traditional life and culture. To this end we connect Western volunteers with professional folklorists who share their expertise in return for help with making recordings, photos, and videos for the folklore archives.
Why Collect Folklore? You’ll learn things you never knew you never knew.
What kinds of mischief are witches accused of? If people have Youtube do they stop singing their old songs? What kinds of urban legends do Russians tell? Are young people interested in old rituals? How do you make vodka from birch sap? Where do you go to find out?
WE CAN TAKE YOU THERE.
Our expedition volunteers record, film and photograph folklore traditions and the people who are the tradition-bearers. They work under the direction of expert local folklorists who gladly share their knowledge. The field recordings end up in scholarly archives to be preserved for future generations.
IT CAN BE A LITTLE ROUGH
No luxury hotel, no swimming pool, no fancy restaurant.
BUT THERE ARE COMPENSATIONS
Great home-made hospitality. Spectacular scenery. Immersion in village life. And improvement to your global vision.
Explore our upcoming expeditions
What Our Volunteers Say
C.O.
“The hospitality of people in the villages was amazing”
M.M.
“This trip was the best planned trip I have ever been on in Russia. It was amazing how smoothly it all went. The best part was being allowed to interview one of the villagers on topics of interest to me. The worst part was having to say goodbye to everyone on our last day. It was wonderful how many people came to see us off.”
S.K.
“Interviewing trumps all; it was fantastic hearing women recount their stories. And swimming in the Dvina for a break was very nice.”
L.P.