WAYNESVILLE, N.C., December 2nd, 2025 – Folkmoot’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Lauren Lanoue as the organization’s new Executive Director. Lanoue is a longtime Haywood County educator, arts practitioner, and nonprofit leader with deep experience in education, fundraising, community engagement, and storytelling. “Lauren brings a rare combination of heart, creativity, and strategic thinking,” said Pete Christian, Board President of Folkmoot. “She understands how powerful it is when people come together across cultures, and she is committed to making Folkmoot a year-round home for that kind of connection here in Western North Carolina.”
A first-generation college graduate, Lanoue earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education (Summa Cum Laude) from Appalachian State University in 2008. Her career has included service as an elementary educator and mentor teacher in Haywood and Jackson Counties and work as an English language and music educator both locally and while living in Hradec Kralove, Czechia. She is also a musician and a writer who enjoys fostering curiosity, creativity, and community wherever she goes.
Lanoue comes to Folkmoot after serving as School Program & Community Engagement Coordinator at The KARE House in Waynesville where she designed and delivered safety education programs reaching more than 2,500 students each year. She has helped lead numerous fundraising events such as the Festival of Trees Gala, which brought in more than $105,000 in 2025, shattering the previous record in 2024 of just over $80,000. She has spent the last several years building strong partnerships with local schools, civic groups, and community organizations here in Haywood County.
“I am both honored and thrilled to be part of Folkmoot’s incredible story,” said Lanoue. “Just like our own Appalachian home, Folkmoot has a rich history we wish to honor. I look forward to doing just that by working with the board, staff, volunteers, and partners to shape programs that invite, educate, and inspire people of all backgrounds and generations. We hope to welcome our community and its visitors into conversations where local and global perspectives meet, while nurturing the next generation of locally rooted artists, makers, and culture shapers.”
As Executive Director, Lanoue will oversee Folkmoot’s year-round calendar of performances, classes, and community programs; steward and expand partnerships with local and international art and cultural groups; lead fundraising and development efforts; and guide the continued growth of the Folkmoot Friendship Center as a hub for arts, education, and community events. “Folkmoot is in a season of rebuilding and renewal,” Christian added. “Lauren’s leadership, her love for this community, and her ability to connect people and ideas will help us write the next chapter of Folkmoot’s story.”
About Folkmoot
Founded in 1984 and based in Waynesville, N.C., Folkmoot has evolved from presenting its long-running international folk festival into a year-round cultural center for Western North Carolina. While the traditional festival formally concluded in recent years, Folkmoot continues to honor its spirit through ongoing cultural programming. Today, Folkmoot fosters connection through performances, workshops, classes, and community events that celebrate both global cultures and local creative traditions.