Critical heritage work: public folklore in the United States Introduction

In 2012, at the first International Conference of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies (ACHS) held at Gothenburg University, I presented a paper on the work with which Clifford Murphy and I were involved at Maryland Traditions, the public folklife programme of the state of Maryland. The paper gave an overview of the public folklore paradigm that is distinctive to the United States and through which Maryland Traditions – the oldest state folklife programme in the nation – grew. In addition, it outlined the programme’s main aims and gave an example of a local-level, collaborative ‘heritage intervention’ that we helped to facilitate, as examined in this issue. After the presentation, several attendees expressed surprise at the fact that the United States cares about intangible cultural heritage (hereafter ICH), as well as noting that it was refreshing to hear from professionals, and not only scholars, on the ‘frontlines’ of ICH-related efforts. From this, I realised that there needs to be a stronger bridge built between public folklore – a longstanding framework of theories and intimately associated field practices – and the international heritage discourse, especially the bourgeoning and increasingly widespread area of ICH.