This 120-minute roundtable, convened in conjunction with the American Folklife Center’s (AFC) 50th Anniversary, will examine AFC’s longstanding and future-facing relationship with the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) and the discipline of ethnomusicology. Framed as a facilitated conversation, presenters will address how AFC collections, programs, and professional practices have developed in parallel with SEM and the discipline of ethnomusicology as a whole, while considering how AFC can continue to serve as a vital resource for ethnomusicologists in the decades ahead.

The roundtable will open with an overview from Panelist 1 situating the historical trajectories of SEM and AFC and reflecting on the collaborative ecosystems that support ethnomusicological work. Panelist 2 will focus on collections associated with prominent ethnomusicologists and SEM’s history, underscoring AFC’s role in preserving the intellectual and institutional memory of the field. Panelist 3 will consider major disciplinary trends, such as sound studies and commons-based approaches, and examine how these frameworks inform current and emerging archival practices at AFC. Panelist 4 will address AFC’s public-facing and digital initiatives, including online concerts, lectures, and audio resources. Panelist 5 will highlight research and teaching support offered by AFC, including reference services, grants and fellowships, research orientations, support for teaching with primary sources, and acquisition of archival collections.

Through collective discussion between participants and attendees, the session aims to articulate and shape AFC’s ongoing and future contributions to SEM and the field at large.