Funding is not really the issue on this thread unless of course we're talking about someone actively engaging in the chasing of funding.

Looking at my own valley we have Ryburn 3 Steppers active in the following areas:


Teaching weekly: Lakeland clog, Appalachian, longsword, singing
Running: monthly folk club, weekly tune session, monthly ceilidh, monthly 'sing, say or play' session.

Annual Spring Sing.

Concert party (singers, dancers and tunesmiths) offered to local community organisations for free to help them raise funds. This also acts as 'missionary work', recruiting new audiences to the other events.

Four one day workshops per year (latest was frailing banjo - Janet Kerr, before that Tunes and their history - me and Chris Partington).

Local radio show (me)

We have volunteer treasurer, fund raiser, secretary,... and so it goes on.

Some of our activists are non-folky, ie. village people taking part in a village activity - they never go to festivals or buy a folk cd.

In short, although it's taken a while,we've tried to build folk arts into the fabric of life around us.

Those of us who are heavily into folk contribute nationally - EFDSS, Yorkshire Folk Arts, AFO, Folk degree, etc.

All this is achieved without formal funding - mostly because many funders are a pain in the butt who usually require more time devoting to reporting back than actually doing the job.

I'm not suggesting that 'activists' should do what we do (if they want to we'll be glad to advise etc.) but merely illustrating that when a lot of people each do a little together you can get a lot done. Those nice people down in Lewes have got their own different and successful approach.

There is also a case for the activist working relatively solo - that nice Malcolm Douglas (RIP) got a hell of lot done on his own.

Just a few rambling thoughts.

JFDI