Lark Traditional Arts (LTA) is dedicated to preserving, presenting, and promoting traditional music, song, and dance through educational, community-focused programming. Founded with a mission to expand access to traditional arts and provide opportunities for culture-bearing artists, we offer a variety of workshops, performances, and camps, and strive to emphasize accessibility, inclusivity, and the joy of learning traditional arts in a supportive, collaborative environment.

LTA formed in 2019 to assume management of Lark Camp, a renowned, family-friendly, traditional music, song, and dance camp held annually in Mendocino for almost four decades. Lark Camp attracts musicians and dancers from across California and the world, focusing on traditional music and dance from dozens of global cultural traditions, including Irish, Turkish, Brazilian, Zimbabwean, and French Canadian, just to name a few. Campers attend hands-on classes with over 80 experienced instructors, as well as informal jams and dances. Under our management, Lark Camp weathered the COVID hiatus and has been held annually since 2023.

Since forming as a nonprofit, we have worked to bring these magical experiences to more people and communities through expanded programming. For example, we now offer our online Virtual Lark, which is a completely free annual event. Through three days of virtual workshops and artist-led jam sessions, Virtual Lark brings together a global community of musicians, dancers, and educators to participate in Lark’s unique educational environment. We also began our Jug Handle Campout in Caspar, CA, a 3-day event focused on workshops and jam sessions offered at an significantly lower price than the original Lark Camp.

Beginning in 2025, under the leadership of LTA’s first employee, Executive Director David Wagner, we are expanding our programming further and working with local arts centers and nonprofits in The Bay area and Mendocino to increase access to and education in traditional music and arts.