Thanks to everyone – more than 1700 of you – who completed our survey into the impact of Covid-19 on a wide range of activities in folk music and dance throughout England.
This initial report gives a few insights into how you have been affected.
30% (506) of survey responses were on behalf of a group.
70% of responses were as individuals, of whom 79% (961) covered amateur activities and 21% (248) were from professional folk artists. (We asked anyone who is involved in both voluntary and professional capacities to complete the survey twice, once for each set of activities.)
Not surprisingly, nearly everyone has been seriously affected: rated 8, 9 or 10 out of 10 by 95% of amateurs, 96% of professionals and 96% of groups.
27% feel that you’ll be back to normal within six months; 40% within 6–12 months; and 28% expect the impact to last more than another 12 months.
We asked about your top concerns for the future.
Willingness of people to return is a concern for 85% of groups, 93% of amateurs and 82% of professionals. It’s the main concern for 52% of groups, 42% of amateurs and 32% of professionals.
Clarity on recovery timelines (what can I do when) is the second biggest concern.
68% of amateurs/hobbyists in folk are concerned about Covid’s impact on their health, including mental health:
- ‘A whole way of life has disappeared’
- ‘Culture destroyed’
- ‘Isolation’
- ‘Not having the same life at all’
- ‘Social life has ceased’
51% of professionals worry about financial sustainability in the longer term: ‘people will not want to organise or attend dances even as the health situation improves’
60% of clubs and groups worry about clarity of the government’s guidance: ‘When will we actually be able to get out and DO?’
Most people are realistic despite the frustration:
- ‘I've lost a lot of enjoyment, but I'll survive!’
- ‘Although a ceilidh is great fun, you have to be alive to enjoy it’.
But many worry about the future of folk activities:
- ‘I am concerned that enthusiasm may be affected by inactivity’
- ‘We will have to close the club, it started in 1919’
- ‘The old habit has been forcibly stopped – cold turkey, will it be restarted?’
Many told us about online activities, but most find it a poor substitute for the interactions in folk dance and music. Internet speed and connection problems were common.
But a few have benefited:
- ‘I'm disabled and don't drive. But now all of a sudden there are online events and classes, so everything's opened up for me! I would hope that post-covid the inaccessibility doesn't return completely’
- ‘My folk social life has improved immensely since lockdown because there are no access problems with online activities’
We are continuing to analyse the details, and are discussing how we can best act on all of your comments and concerns.
