Mo, the folk scene is built around participation and many professional folk performers are very generous with their time and advice. This was not what my comment was referring to.

The mainstream arts world has tended to focus on supporting the professional arts. Whereas a considerable amount of public funding is available to encourage participation in sport, the same doesn't seem to be true of the arts. Whilst there are some signs that this is changing, it is still limited. I note that whilst funding is to be made available to community groups to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations later this year, they are expected to engage with Arts Council approved 'creatives', so really this is just disguised support for professionals.

EFDSS clearly wants to be taken seriously in this world. Its emphasis on professional artist development, education, crossover projects and the development of new work (rather than folk in its original forms) all seems aimed to tick the required boxes. In fairness, knowing how to engage with the arts establishment has enabled it to secure the Arts Council funding for the Full English project, so credit where due. I have no objection to it doing any of this work, provided it does not mean that the grass-roots participatory side of folk is not even more neglected than it is at present.