Announcing the Folk Education Network
Our Folk Educators Group is celebrating its 10th Birthday with a new name: Folk Education Network.
As the Folk Educators Group turns 10 years old, we are delighted to announce a name change to Folk Education Network, as a reflection of the wonderfully wide reach that has grown out of the small, dedicated group of 30 folk educators who attended the first event in 2011, all keen to develop and support folk arts education.
The Folk Education Network is for anyone involved or interested in folk education in any capacity – practitioner or organiser, or interested colleague from a related sphere, all are welcome to get involved!
Established by the English Folk Dance and Song Society in 2011, to combat the isolation experienced by many folk educators, this supportive network is committed to promoting high quality folk arts learning and participation and supporting the practitioners who deliver it. There are now over 330 members from England and beyond who are connected via our dedicated Facebook Group.
With Network Co-ordinator Kerry Fletcher at the helm, we have travelled the length and breadth of the country with our Folk Education Development Days, providing free Continuing Professional Development for educators, highlighting regional and local projects, connecting with arts and heritage organisations, and meeting and sharing experiences and knowledge with fellow educators.
Our online Folk Education Development Days are now attracting around 70 attendees from across England and further afield. We have recently initiated a series of Open Space meetings for folk educators to meet on Zoom: this hour drop-in session is to share thoughts and experiences and challenges of working during the pandemic and offer peer support during this difficult time. It is inspired by and in collaboration with English Folk Expo’s Folk Talk Together initiative and is hosted bythe English Folk Dance and Song Society and chaired by folk educator David Brookhouse.
Alongside this work, we are also running two half-day Folk Education Discussions – one focussing on Youth Folk Dance on Monday 1 March, and the other on Calling Through Covid on Saturday 20 March.
People involved in folk education come in many shapes and sizes – and disguises too – getting folk into surprising places.
So, are you?...
- a performing artist delivering workshops at festivals
- a caller
- teaching morris dancing in schools
- running festival workshops
- running an after school clog dancing club
- involved in an intergenerational folk arts project
- running a youth folk ensemble
- teaching adults to play the melodeon
- teaching song writing or folk drama
- using folk music, dance and storytelling in a special needs school
- teaching folk in the U3A
- or organising any of the above, whether paid or unpaid; full-time, part-time, or occasional; novice or experienced practitioner…
If you are anything like any of these people, then you are very welcome to join us!
If you’re part of an organisation looking for creative ways to deliver your projects and ideas, then get in touch as we can help you to connect with practitioners to collaborate with and realise your vision.
The Folk Education Network has built this vibrant and thriving network that supports, advocates, and connects people involved with folk education with each other and the wider world of arts, culture, education, health to name a few – a great achievement to celebrate and a new name to ring in the future!
To give you a flavour of one of our Folk Education Development Days, enjoy a review by Alex Cumming of our recent online day, Inclusive Folk Arts and Disability.
Contact Kerry Fletcher, Folk Education Network Co-ordinator or Rachel Elliott, Education Director: [email protected]
