The Folk School

Our Story:
A small group of us have been dreaming and scheming about a folk school in Fairbanks for over 20 years. We have been offering programs and classes for much of that time, mostly out of our own homes. Over the years the public response has been enthusiastic and participants have returned again and again looking for new opportunities. Some of these people have continued to hone their new skills and are now teaching others. The ever-growing group of people wanting to share their knowledge was in need of an organizational structure and a facility out of which to teach. To this end we formed The Folk School.

At this point we have two primary goals:

1. Continue to offer and expand our programs and classes
2. Find a home

Our Vision: To provide a dedicated, centrally located, safe, friendly, and welcoming place offering a rich variety of hands-on experiences.

What is a folk school?
As a folk school we are part of a 200 year old tradition. 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. Most emphasize life-long learning, serve all ages and are non degree granting. 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.