In this context it's worth pointing out that Folkworks, the leading Folk Development Agency in the UK, is a major partner in a new performing arts centre for Gateshead (jut across the river from Newcastle, for non-UK persons!), and that the scheme has fairly recently been awarded funding of 43.8 million gbp . . . For outline info. see:

http://www.arts.org.uk/directory/regions/northern/what_new/19991115.html

and don't blame me for that page being so bland and uninteresting; the project itself certainly isn't.

(It amazes me that the Arts Council of England's web site is so poorly designed - technically and artisticly - and poorly maintained; I did a site search for info on this project and every link the search turned up was broken . . )

G.