If you’ve ever wanted to learn blacksmithing or timber-framing, you don’t have to go far. The Michigan Folk School is serving Washtenaw County residents right now. In fact, it has been expanding since its inception in 2012. In this week’s "creative:impact," with WEMU’s David Fair and Deb Polich of The Arts Alliance, you’ll hear the personal and professional story of the school’s director, Jason Gold.
Creative industries in Washtenaw County add hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. In the weeks and months to come, 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and co-host Deb Polich, the President and CEO of The Arts Alliance, explore the myriad of contributors that make up the creative sector in Washtenaw County.
Jason Gold has worked in various fields, from education to banking, and has gained an expansive knowledge across many disciplines. As an EMU grad, Jason’s collection of experiences is what allows him to teach from multiple perspectives. The topics Jason teaches originate from his time spent as a beekeeper, builder, electrician, farmer’s market manager, homesteader, toy maker, teacher, woodworker, videographer, and writer.
In 2012, Jason and his wife Julia founded the Michigan Folk School in order to extend the reach of a community of people who want to empower themselves with new skills and knowledge. The Michigan Folk School, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to keeping learning, tradition, and community alive.
According to Jason, the Michigan Folk School (MFS) is a place for “folks” of all ages to pursue a unique and life-changing education, one that focuses on the renewal of traditional living skills, crafts, and music. The modern-day application of these traditional folk arts represents a return to a simpler, more creative way of life. Through the process, he says, we become more connected to ourselves, to our Earth, and to each other in the spirit of community.
Michigan Folk School classes create a community that honors and shares the old way of doing things. It offers more than 30 classes each session and is always growing and evolving.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
