We’re excited to share some wonderful news from the bluegrass community! The Ashokan Center has been awarded a $2,000 project grant from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Foundation in support of our 2026 Bluegrass Camp—a weeklong immersive music experience that brings musicians of all ages together to learn, play, and build community through traditional music.
Each year, the IBMA Foundation selects a small group of outstanding programs that are preserving and expanding access to bluegrass education across the U.S. and beyond. For 2026, the Foundation awarded $20,000 in grants to just 11 programs in eight states and Canada, and we’re honored that Ashokan’s Bluegrass Camp was among those recognized.
Hosted this year by acclaimed fiddler Kimber Ludiker, Ashokan’s Bluegrass Camp offers hands-on instruction for guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, vocals, and songwriting. Campers of all experience levels come together for workshops, jam sessions, concerts, mini-lessons, open mics, and plenty of late-night picking—creating a supportive and joyful environment where music and friendships flourish.
This generous grant helps make it possible for us to continue offering high-quality instruction, bringing world-class teachers to Olivebridge, and keeping Bluegrass Camp accessible to a diverse community of musicians.
The IBMA Foundation’s mission is to foster the growth of bluegrass music through education, cultural preservation, and community programs. Their support—alongside the Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund—strengthens programs that are making a meaningful impact in people’s lives through music.
At the Ashokan Center, our mission is to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and art. Bluegrass Camp embodies that mission in every jam circle, lesson, and shared meal—connecting generations through music rooted in tradition and creativity.
We are deeply grateful to the IBMA Foundation and their donors for investing in Ashokan’s work and in the future of bluegrass education. Their support helps ensure that this vibrant musical tradition continues to thrive here in the Catskills and beyond.
If you’d like to learn more about Ashokan’s Bluegrass Camp or explore our upcoming music and dance programs, visit ashokancenter.org/events.
And if you’re interested in supporting programs like Bluegrass Camp that bring music, learning, and community together, we invite you to connect with Sara and the Ashokan Center Development Team or visit ashokancenter.org/donate to help keep these experiences growing for years to come.