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12 Jan 16 - 07:54 AM (#3764877) Subject: Top International Award for EFDSS From: Vic Smith Press Release just received:- January 12, 2016 EFDSS to receive international lifetime achievement award National folk arts development agency, the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), has been named as one of the 2016 recipients of a prestigious international lifetime achievement award from Folk Alliance International. Chief Executive Katy Spicer will receive The Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement award on behalf of EFDSS during the opening evening of the 28th annual Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas, USA, on Wednesday, February 17, 2016. The award is named for one of the founders of Folk Alliance International, which is the world's largest gathering of the folk music industry. Each year, the awards are presented to a living recipient, a memorial recipient and an active organisation and are determined by a select international panel. Past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards include Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples, The Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, Robert Johnson, Bessie Jones, Alan Lomax, The Newport Folk Festival, Old Town School of Folk Music, National Council for Traditional Arts, and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, among others. EFDSS Chief Executive Katy Spicer said: "As an organisation, we are thrilled to be recognised for our work in preserving, promoting and disseminating traditional English folk arts. "To join such esteemed organisations such as the American Folklife Center and folk luminiaries as song collector Alan Lomax is a great honour." EFDSS has been showcasing English folk artists at Folk Alliance for the past four years a s part of its international programme, The 2016 artists attending i nclude Leveret, Nancy Kerr and Lady Maisery. Citation: (Organisation/academic) The English Folk Dance and Song Society The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) is the development organisation for the English folk arts. It was formed in 1932 from the merger of the Folk Song Society (founded 1898) and the English Folk Dance Society (founded 1911), and operates from its purpose built arts venue, Cecil Sharp House in London, England. EFDSS, and its parent organisations, have been responsible for preserving much of the English folk songs, tunes and dances performed today through field collectors in the early 20th century and now digitisation of those collections for an online catalogue. Over the decades it has set up major festivals including Sidmouth Folk Week and Whitby Folk Festival; hosted a Who's Who of folk singers at Cecil Sharp House from Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger to Eliza Carthy and Martin Simpson, and enjoyed royal patronage – HRH Princess Margaret was EFDSS President from 1960 to 2002. 115 years on and EFDSS continues to carry out its objectives of preserving, promoting and developing the English folk arts through its internationally renowned library, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, and feted performance, artists' development and education programs, delivered throughout England and increasingly internationally. About Folk Alliance International Folk Alliance International is a unique and one-of-a-kind annual conference that features the world's largest gathering of the folk music industry and community. Boasting a yearly attendance of more than 2,500 registrants, the conference features official showcases, exhibitors, educational panels and professional development workshops held under one roof, bringing together musicians, educators and music industry professionals from throughout the world to share ideas, network, and promote folk music. With 190 artist showcases, this year's conference will feature artists from 11 countries, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Estonia, India, and Japan. ENDS |
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12 Jan 16 - 10:52 AM (#3764919) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,Hootenanny The "Folk music industry" ??????????????????? Oh dear. |
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12 Jan 16 - 11:06 AM (#3764924) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: Les in Chorlton How about a development policy to support folk in the regions? |
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12 Jan 16 - 11:53 AM (#3764936) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,henryp A lifetime achievement award! Is that confirmation that it has a life, or does it mean that its life is coming to an end? |
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12 Jan 16 - 01:10 PM (#3764958) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,cardboardcutout No no, it certainly has a life, and in the context of the list of previous recipients, why would we not want to celebrate the u.k and yes, it's folk INDUSTRY which the EFDSS amongst others, champions. I think it is doing it's job better than ever now, compared to the 30 years or so that I have been a member: and more in the regions as well |
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12 Jan 16 - 01:25 PM (#3764972) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: Les in Chorlton "and more in the regions as well " I am really pleased to hear this. Here is one example: In Manchester Are their more? |
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12 Jan 16 - 03:23 PM (#3765020) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,Peter The last meeting of the Folk Educators Group was in Leeds. Full English Project participating schools: East: Bewick Bridge Community Primary School, Cambridge; Impington Village College. East Midlands: Marton Primary School, Lincolnshire; Branston Community Academy, Lincoln. London: Primrose Hill Primary School; Acland Burghley School. North East: St Godric's RC VA Primary (Federation), Co. Durham and St Mary's Primary School (Federation), Co.Durham; Durham Johnston Comprehensive School. North West: St John with St Mark Primary School, Bury; Holy Family College, Heywood. South East: Loughton School, Milton Keynes; Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes. South West: Pathfield School, Barnstaple (SEN School); Hanham High School, South Gloucestershire. West Midlands: Allens Croft Primary School, Birmingham; Queensbridge School, Birmingham Yorkshire: Shawlands Primary School, Barnsley; Horizon Community College, Barnsley. |
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13 Jan 16 - 08:22 AM (#3765145) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,Hootenanny Cardboard Cutout do you really want manufactured Folk? which is what the phrase Folk Music Industry implies. Much of today's pop music is manufactured obviously but I don't see how Folk can be manufactured. Unfortunate choice of phrase methinks. |
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13 Jan 16 - 08:39 AM (#3765150) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,MTB More support in the regions - http://www.englishfolkexpo.com/about/ at the Met in Bury. "English Folk Expo is produced by Playpen Management and is supported by Arts Council England, English Folk Dance & Song Society, The Met and Bury Council" |
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13 Jan 16 - 08:41 AM (#3765152) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST And the National Youth Folk Ensemble is nationwide - http://www.efdss.org/efdss-education/national-youth-folk-ensemble |
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14 Jan 16 - 03:52 AM (#3765385) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST,FloraG I am a long time member of the EFDSS and I agree its doing more now - but from a low start. It does not have a high profile in Kent. When I think of the things I have been involved with - calling for dances/ concerts/ Broadstairs & Tenterden festivals / adult and childrens' morris / local sessions and folk clubs/ playing in the band - it has had little impact. FloraG |
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14 Jan 16 - 04:47 AM (#3765395) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: GUEST The grass roots network of Districts was expensive to run and dominated by old school dance clubs that did little except run more dances for dancers. A few babys were thrown out with the bathwater but overall its abolition was a good thing for the society. I have many criticisms of EFDSS but their focus, partly dictated by what Arts Council England are prepared to fund, is on the VWML, education and artist development, none of which are particularly visible to the general public. |
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15 Jan 16 - 03:15 AM (#3765660) Subject: RE: Top International Award for EFDSS From: Les in Chorlton I guess the reality of the UK folkie world is that folk clubs sprang up from the 60s on without much connection with the EFDSS. It did front a 'Federation' and a handbook for a while in the 70s but clubs have come and gone so fast it was hard to keep up. Ceilidhs / Barn Dances / Dance Clubs have hung on within the EFDSS circle bit much more importantly Ceilidhs of one sort or another pop up all over the place - Folk Clubs, school PTAs, Fund raisers of all kinds and I suspect that they are how most none folkies bump into and clearly enjoy our folk heritage. How can EFDSS help? Dunno Best wishes Member for 30 + years |