TKMA began as a group of friends gathering regularly on Friday nights for potlucks and jammin' in the kitchen. Over the years, TKMA has grown into a non-profit organization of more than 300 members

TKMA was established to further public awareness and interest in acoustic music and other folk arts by promoting and producing the annual Tucson Folk Festival, where folk musicians can share their talent with the greater Tucson community. The Tucson Folk Festival represents the culmination of Folk Music Week as proclaimed by the mayor of Tucson.