What Is the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum?
Adding to Ferrum College’s distinctive educational environment, the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum was established in the early 1970s to document, interpret, and present the folkways of the Blue Ridge. While keeping its emphasis on western Virginia traditions, the Institute does programming and fieldwork across the state. Major Institute programs include: • The annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival • The Blue Ridge Farm Museum • The Blue Ridge Heritage Archive • BRI Recordings • Traveling exhibitions on regional folklife • On-line exhibitions and resources (www.blueridgeinstitute.org, www.blueridgemusic.org, www.virginiaheritage.org, www.virginiamountainmusic.org) Designated the State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore, the Institute is a major venue on the Crooked Road Music Trail.
