G'day McGrath of Harlow,

In many ways the peripatetic period of our National was a great thing; for 25 years it travelled from state to state and the state awarded each year's National could choose where to stage it. It was generally in a university in the capital city and the older universities were fine places, with venues ranging down from mighty lecture halls, through good stages and performance spaces - all the way to little resonant niches and blind corridors for informal sessioning.

The host states had a great boost to unity and identity in hosting the National and the various state Folk Federations - and state Folk Festivals - usually arose from the National Festival. What killed off this this halcyon era was increasing size during the 1970s / '80s and economic rationalism's impact on large public bodies such as universities. As the cost of venue skyrocketted, the need for substantial corporate sponsorship insinuated itself and such bodies want to deal with a fixed group of organisers and see a 'proven track record' for the event.

Where we have ended is not in any way a loss or 'sell-out". Every state has its own festival(s), the thriving progeny of the National ... and the National has an excellent and appropriate venue in the nation's capital. On a population/distance weighted basis, the location is almost ideal. It is certainly tough for someone in Perth ... or Darwin ... or Alice Springs ..., but these are some of the most remote capital cities in the world! That is the nature of Australia.

If we want events in all our remote centres, they should grow naturally from the enthusiasm and support of the locals, feature the unique attributes of the region and its folk ... and belong to them. If they are good enough and different enough, Australians will come to them and we will develop diversity and regional identity.

Regards,

Bob Bolton