Tom Pich is a professional photographer who has traveled across America for the past 25 years photographing the extraordinary recipients of the National Heritage Fellowships. His portraits have been exhibited at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Museum of the American Indian, The Russell Office Building of the U.S. Senate and Library of Congress.

Barry Bergey was the Director of Folk and Traditional Arts at the National Endowment for the Arts, recently retiring after a career of nearly 30 years at the agency. His involvement in international arts policy includes consultation with UNESCO, the Organization of American States, the World Bank, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Department of State.