The network for Europe’s organisers of folk and traditional music

The European Folk Network was set up when it was found there was no European equivalent to the US-based Folk Alliance. It held its first meeting on the last day of Celtic Connections this January. Over 30 people from 9 different European countries were at the launch and over the weekend of Showcase Scotland another 40+ people (who could not attend the launch) signed up to be connected with information and updates from the new network. Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and European Affairs took a keen interest in the idea in conversation with Nod Knowles at the Gaelic Showcase event at Showcase Scotland – with Nod promising to keep her fully informed as to the progress of the organisation.

Vision

The rich diversity of cultural identities in Europe is expressed and celebrated through folk and traditional music and associated performing arts.

Purpose

The network exists to support and broaden awareness of the arts of tradition as a cultural and educational force in Europe.

Aims

• to encourage, promote and support developments for folk music and
• associated arts in their diverse forms and origins
• to create opportunities for artists, organisers and audiences from European
• countries to meet, communicate and collaborate
• to foster relationships with artists, organisers and audiences beyond Europe

Membership

• The membership is Europe-wide and open to all those actively working in the folk/traditional scene – organisations and individuals.
• By joining members commit to supporting the network’s vision and aims and contribute to its collective impact, voice and work.
• The main benefits of membership are opportunities to meet, share and collaborate with others, increasing members’ own contacts and supporting the mobility of artists and organisers in Europe.
• The organisation will be democratic with each member having a vote. The members will determine the work and direction of the network
• Members will pay a membership fee to the network to provide funds for basic operation.
• Membership fees are: €25 for individuals; €100 for organisations (€100 for one membership per organisation and €20 for each subsequent person in the same organisation wishing to join as a voting member).

Find details of membership and how to join by emailing Eurofolk.burnsong@gmail.com

The website will be online soon as www.europeanfolknetwork.eu

History

The European Folk Network’s origins were in a project by Scotland’s Burnsong, researching connections with North America’s Folk Alliance International network. Realising that there was no such network in Europe, Burnsong made contact and held meetings with folk music organisers from across the continent and discovered a strong ambition to make a pan-European contact organisation.

By September 2015 over 70 people from 14 European countries had expressed their positive interest and a practical Working Group of 18 people from Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England met to agree details and create a formal organisation. The European Folk Network was born – to be officially launched in Glasgow in January 2016 at the time of the annual Celtic Connections festival.

The Future

The European Folk Network will register as a not-for-profit legal structure, with a democratic constitution and a Board of Management elected annually by members. The website will carry information and news. Ambitions for active work by the Network in future years include:

• (Annual) meeting(s) for members to meet and share interests and ideas
• Mutual support and practical assistance between members
• Practical partnerships: co-commissioning, creative projects, creating work together
• Development programme of good practice, skills and opportunities for artistsand organisers
• Providing a point of presence and access for media
• Raising PR and media awareness for the sector
• Fundraising and joint funding applications for collaborative project work
• Raising the profile of folk music across Europe
• Advocacy and influencing social and cultural policy

For their generous help and encouragement to date the European Folk Network thanks: Burnsong (with Creative Scotland support), Flanders Arts Institute (Kunstenpunt), Folk Alliance International, Showcase Scotland, English Folk Expo, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Scottish Music Centre, Royal Northern College of Music, Bury Met – and the members of the Working Group from: English Folk Dance and Song Society, trac Cymru, ROSA, Radio Diana, Armagh Rhymers, de Loecker, Muziek Mozaiek, Traditional Music Forum (TRACS), Sage Gateshead, Regional Cultural Centre Donegal, WOMEX, British Council, Dranouter Festival, Nod Knowles Productions, Burnsong and Kunstenpunt.