The chances are that with reduced funding the EFDSS will have to focus more on London, not less. This seems likely to reduce support for folk music in the regions. Let's hope the VWML is not affected.

It is difficult to extract from the ACE's data which organisations they will be funding will support folk. The only one I am aware of is English Folk Expo, which seems to have a "music industry" model in mind. Of course, ACE has ignored amateur arts for most of its history and when it has supported them it has often been only to provide opportunities for professional artists, so this is perhaps unsurprising, but it is not a model I want to see. Of course concerts by professionals have their place, but folk music has always been more participatory. TBH, I don't quite understand why the sort of events EFEx are promoting require public funding.

However the EFDSS has lost £140k, and only £96k is going to EFEx. What is happening to the rest?

EFDSS are hard to love. They turn their back on the folk community for most of the time, until they need our support and our money. Even then, what is potentially an existential crisis for the EFDSS and folk music nationally is relegated to somewhere near the foot of their website. Nevertheless, slightly to my surprise I find myself agreeing that it needs our support, and our voices raised in protest.