C. Kurt Dewhurst (born 1948)[ citation needed] is an American curator and folklorist. Dewhurst is Director for Arts and Cultural Partnerships at Michigan State University (MSU) and also a Senior Fellow in University Outreach and Engagement. At MSU, he is also Director Emeritus of the Michigan State University Museum and a Professor of English and Museum Studies. [1]
Dewhurst was born Passaic, New Jersey. [2]
Dewhurst attended Michigan State University where he graduated with a B.A. in 1970 and an M.A. in 1973. He received his doctorate from the same institution in 1983, from the Department of English and American Studies. [3] His Ph.D. thesis was titled 'The folk pottery-making tradition of Grand Ledge, Michigan : a material folk culture study'. [4]
Dewhurst has been involved with Michigan State University Museum since the 1970s: working as a curator there from 1976 before becoming director in 1982.[ citation needed]
Dewhurst has authored or co-authored numerous books, articles, and exhibition catalogues. He has also curated over 60 exhibitions and festival programs. His research interests include folk arts, material culture, cultural economic development, and cultural heritage policy. [5]
He has frequently collaborated on projects with his wife Marsha MacDowell, who is a Professor of Art History at MSU. [6] [7]
Dewhurst served as president of the American Folklore Society (AFS) between 2010 and 2011. [8] His 2011 Presidential Address was titled, "Folklife and Museum Practice: An Intertwined History and Emerging Convergences". [9] In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of the AFS. In 2004 he was jointly awarded the AFS's Américo Paredes Prize for "integrating scholarship and engagement with the people and communities". [10]
Dewhurst has chaired a number of cultural organisations and associations including the board of trustees for the American Folklife Center; [11] the advisory council of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage [12] and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. [13]
He is an advisor to three cultural heritage projects in South Africa: the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha; the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in Johannesburg and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town. [14]
Dewhurst received a Fulbright Grant to work in Thailand with the National Culture Commission of Thailand. He has also participated in the French-American Foundation Arts Administrators Exchange Program in France. [15]
In 2004, the Great Lakes Folk Festival - begun by Dewhurst and MacDowell in 1987 - was recognized as "one of the most outstanding projects" over the 30-year history of the Michigan Humanities Council. [16]
In 2018 Dewhurst and Marsha MacDowell were jointly awarded the MSU Charles Gliozzo Award for International Diplomacy. [17]
He is a key member of the US-Africa Cultural Heritage Strategic Partnership, which is focused on "preserving ...and making accessible the heritage of Africa's many cultures" [18] and also the US/China Folklife and Intangible Cultural Heritage Partnership project. [19] [20]
Dewhurst has curated numerous exhibitions and festival programs including:
C. Kurt Dewhurst (born 1948)[ citation needed] is an American curator and folklorist. Dewhurst is Director for Arts and Cultural Partnerships at Michigan State University (MSU) and also a Senior Fellow in University Outreach and Engagement. At MSU, he is also Director Emeritus of the Michigan State University Museum and a Professor of English and Museum Studies. [1]
Dewhurst was born Passaic, New Jersey. [2]
Dewhurst attended Michigan State University where he graduated with a B.A. in 1970 and an M.A. in 1973. He received his doctorate from the same institution in 1983, from the Department of English and American Studies. [3] His Ph.D. thesis was titled 'The folk pottery-making tradition of Grand Ledge, Michigan : a material folk culture study'. [4]
Dewhurst has been involved with Michigan State University Museum since the 1970s: working as a curator there from 1976 before becoming director in 1982.[ citation needed]
Dewhurst has authored or co-authored numerous books, articles, and exhibition catalogues. He has also curated over 60 exhibitions and festival programs. His research interests include folk arts, material culture, cultural economic development, and cultural heritage policy. [5]
He has frequently collaborated on projects with his wife Marsha MacDowell, who is a Professor of Art History at MSU. [6] [7]
Dewhurst served as president of the American Folklore Society (AFS) between 2010 and 2011. [8] His 2011 Presidential Address was titled, "Folklife and Museum Practice: An Intertwined History and Emerging Convergences". [9] In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of the AFS. In 2004 he was jointly awarded the AFS's Américo Paredes Prize for "integrating scholarship and engagement with the people and communities". [10]
Dewhurst has chaired a number of cultural organisations and associations including the board of trustees for the American Folklife Center; [11] the advisory council of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage [12] and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. [13]
He is an advisor to three cultural heritage projects in South Africa: the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha; the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in Johannesburg and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town. [14]
Dewhurst received a Fulbright Grant to work in Thailand with the National Culture Commission of Thailand. He has also participated in the French-American Foundation Arts Administrators Exchange Program in France. [15]
In 2004, the Great Lakes Folk Festival - begun by Dewhurst and MacDowell in 1987 - was recognized as "one of the most outstanding projects" over the 30-year history of the Michigan Humanities Council. [16]
In 2018 Dewhurst and Marsha MacDowell were jointly awarded the MSU Charles Gliozzo Award for International Diplomacy. [17]
He is a key member of the US-Africa Cultural Heritage Strategic Partnership, which is focused on "preserving ...and making accessible the heritage of Africa's many cultures" [18] and also the US/China Folklife and Intangible Cultural Heritage Partnership project. [19] [20]
Dewhurst has curated numerous exhibitions and festival programs including: