Based in Fairbanks, Alaska, we offer classes and programs all year in traditional crafts, woodworking, printmaking, Alaskan skills, and hands-on arts and sciences. The Folk School of Fairbanks is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that offers year-round classes and programs for all ages in a wide variety of hands-on disciplines, including:
-Woodworking & Carving
-Wilderness & Homesteading Skills
-Fib
er Arts & Visual Arts
-Bark, Bone, Skin, Antler & Metal Work
-Music & Creative Writing
-Boat Building
-Food Preparation & Preservation
-Gardening & Agriculture
-Log Construction & Home Maintenance
Our mission is to perpetuate the joy of hands-on learning. Nikolaj Grundtvig started the folk school movement during the European Industrial Revolution. It provided alternative learning opportunities through popular education (as opposed to formal education) and enlightenment for the lower classes. Inherent in Grundtvig’s folk school concept was the responsiveness of the school to the community and the times. Grundtvig deliberately did not set down detailed or rigid guidelines for the schools because he believed that folk schools develop organically out of the needs of the community and the demands of life as it is. His core belief was that learning should occur across social position and differences: the teacher learns from the student and the student learns from the teacher in a dynamic and mutual exchange. Today folk schools can be found in many parts of the world and take on many forms. The unifying focus is on inspiring and empowering students through the process of learning new life skills that serve to build resilience in a changing world. Through the confidence that comes from learning new skills, students are challenged to discover their unique identity and how they can contribute to strengthening and supporting their community.
