The purpose of the English Folk Dance and Song Society is to champion folk dance and music at the heart of England’s rich and diverse cultural landscape.
Our mission is to:
Welcome everyone: Inclusivity is at our core; we celebrate diverse voices, and promote equality in everything we do.
Take the lead: we drive change, we motivate and develop new generations of folk artists, practitioners and audiences, and build networks and partnerships.
Connect passions: we spark curiosity and creative possibilities by providing opportunities for learning, studying and exploring folk.
Treasure folk: we preserve, present and promote folk arts and their rich resources.
Our Vision:
That people in England have the opportunity to connect with and enjoy folk.
We aim to be bold and relevant to a constantly evolving modern world.
We believe passionately that people of all ages and backgrounds should enjoy the rich traditions and present-day vibrancy of folk dance and music.
We aspire to challenge, develop and broaden public perception, thinking and practice of folk in the 21st century.
Our Values
We aim to live our values every day. We are:
Inclusive
Creating an open culture of warmth and belonging, we value diversity and actively welcome people of all backgrounds to be involved in folk music and dance.
Progressive
We are forward-thinking, leading the way in best practice, and driving positive change whilst celebrating tradition. We are bold and open to new ways of doing things.
Collaborative
We work and learn as a team, supporting each other and building our culture together. Everyone is valued and everyone plays an important role. We foster partnerships and connections across and beyond the folk sector to share knowledge across communities.
Creative
We bring new and challenging ideas to the table, celebrate imaginative thinking and foster the dynamic evolution of folk practices. We are adventurous, resourceful, open-minded and tenacious. We believe in the creative potential of everyone.
Principled
We operate ethically with integrity, and are professional, honest, authentic, fair and respectful.
