• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nashville's local news and NPR station

Search
Listen Listen
Give Now
  • Search
  • News
    • Arts, Culture & Music
    • Criminal Justice
    • Curious Nashville
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Housing
    • Metro Government
    • Race & Equity
    • State Politics
  • Schedule
    • WPLN-FM
    • WPLN International
  • Support
    • Give Now
    • Ways to Support
    • The Producers’ Circle
    • Donor Hub
    • Donate A Car
    • Give Stock
    • Business Support
    • Planned Giving
  • Shows + Podcasts
    • NashVillager
    • This Is Nashville
    • The Promise
    • Curious Nashville
    • See All
  • NashVillager
    • Podcast
    • Newsletter
  • Events
  • Giveaways
  • Donor Hub
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
This Is Nashville logo
MondayOctober 24, 2022

Preserving Tennessee’s traditional arts

Manuel Delgado Nashville guitar
Tony GonzalezWPLN News
Manuel Delgado, a third-generation luthier, is a participant in the state's Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program.
Listen
Share:

Many of Tennessee’s traditional and folk art forms are carried on by small numbers of artisans. But since 2017, the Tennessee Arts Commission has been pairing up knowledgeable “masters” with “apprentices” to work to preserve traditions.

Broom makers, shoe cobblers, luthiers and milliners, along with gospel singers, buck dancers, Kurdish musicians and square dance callers have taken part in the Tennessee Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

On today’s episode, we hear from both masters and apprentices about preserving their crafts for the next generation, along with Director of Folklife Bradley Hanson, who launched and oversees the apprenticeship program for the arts commission.

“The world is not telling kids to go become old-time fiddlers. It just isn’t. But we are,” says Hanson. “We’re a kind of cheerleader, booster, funder and advocate. … It’s the state of Tennessee saying, ‘We value this.’ ”

But first, we’re hearing the latest about the rising opposition to gender affirming surgeries from Tennessee Republicans, who are vowing to file new legislation. WPLN state politics reporter Blaise Gainey and senior healthcare reporter Blake Farmer will share what they learned while covering a heated rally on Friday in downtown Nashville.

Guests:

  • Jimmy Bilbrey, bluegrass musician and apprentice fiddle maker
  • Jack Martin, broom maker and owner of Hockaday Handmade Brooms
  • Arkan Doski, traditional Kurdish musician
  • Manuel Delgado, luthier and owner of Delgado Guitars
  • Bradley Hanson, director of folklife at the Tennessee Arts Commission
  • Maxine White, milliner and owner of Maxie’s Hats

Get the This Is Nashville weekly Newsletter

In addition to This Is Nashville, sign me up for:

Primary Sidebar

Become a sponsor?
Become a sponsor?
Become a sponsor?

Footer

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Staff
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Impact Report
  • Financial, FCC and CPB Reports
  • WPLN News Transparency Report
  • FCC Public File
  • Board of Directors
  • Privacy Policy

Listen

  • Ways To Listen
  • Shows & Podcasts
  • iPhone App
  • Android App
  • Alexa Smart Speakers

Sister Stations

  • WPLN International
  • 91.ONE, WNXP
  • Nashville Classical Radio

Stay Connected

  • Contact News Department
  • Receive Our Newsletters
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
WPLN News, Nashville Public Radio
630 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37228

Phone: (615) 760-2903
©2025 Nashville Public Radio

on-air light On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM

Pop-Up Player : All Channels
Launch Streaming Player