folk arts

Noun

folk art (countable and uncountable, plural folk arts)

1. Craft traditions and values of various social groups.
   • Folk art belongs to communities rather than to individuals, and to many generations rather than one period. […] Folk art reflects community ideas about what is beautiful or appropriate for a given object or function.1995, Alison Hilton, Russian Folk Art, Indiana University Press, →ISBN, page 3
2. Intangible art forms such as folk music and folk dance rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community.
   • Through its disarming frankness, inherent drama, and theatricality, Spanish dance had definitely moved from folk art to theatrical experience.2012, Sharyn R. Udall, Dance and American Art: A Long Embrace, University of Wisconsin Press, →ISBN, page 108
3. Outsider art.
   • Mr. Finster's work emerged at a time when traditional definitions of folk art were being expanded to include a diverse range of faith-driven, stylistically raw work known as outsider art that was frequently made by Southern blacks and whites who eked out livings as farmers or repairmen.2001 October 23, Roberta Smith, “Howard Finster, Folk Artist and Preacher, Dies at 84”, in The New York Times, →ISSN