About our name...
English Dance and Song Autumn 2022
This article appears in English Dance and Song, the magazine of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The world’s oldest magazine for folk music and dance, EDS was first published in 1936 and is essential reading for anyone with a passion for folk arts.
Thank you again to everyone who gave opinions on the proposal that the English Folk Dance and Song Society could change its name to Folk Arts England.
You can read about the Board’s thinking which led to this recommendation at efdss.org/consultation.
We have carefully analysed the quantitative responses and the Board has seen every one of your written comments. The only conclusion we can confidently draw is that there is no clear consensus.
Whilst many members and supporters do feel positive about the proposed change, others feel it is unnecessary or fear that it would dilute our remit. We attempt to address these concerns below – but first, here are some comments from people in favour of the change.
‘I think the proposed new name is EXCELLENT… I actually found myself using it recently when referring to a performance I had just attended – SO much easier to say and needed NO further explanation in the context – brilliant – go for it!’
‘The name Folk Arts England feels less possessive and more inclusive. I would feel more comfortable with the proposed name. It feels more welcoming and is easier to say. It makes me feel good that this consultation is happening; it feels timely and appropriate.’
‘This isn’t something I have thought about before but really appreciate the enquiry and can’t believe how much better Folk Arts England sounds to me. I hope this is a direction you go in. I can’t wait to see all that you will do in the future to explore the ever-changing living traditions around England.’
‘I love the proposal to change the name and I’m so encouraged to see all the thinking that’s gone into this survey. I really hope the majority of responders are sympathetic.’
‘Would normally say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But I think you may have a point here. The new name feels more inclusive.’
‘I like the new name suggestion. I find EFDSS too convoluted and I can never remember the correct abbreviation.’
‘I couldn’t agree more with the distinction between English/England made in the questionnaire – and the new name would neatly get around this. I think this very positive change of name would give a much-needed boost to the organisation at a difficult time.’
Your questions answered
Will Folk Arts incorporate non-performative arts (like needlework or painting) too?
Folk Arts does not say exclusively music, song and dance to me, it says corn dollies, basket weaving and other traditional crafts.
This was a common concern. Our 1932 articles refer to ‘English folk dances and songs, other folk music, folk talks and folk drama’ and we have no intention of expanding our remit any further.
Folk Arts England sounds as though it covers any folk arts practised in England – not necessarily English, could be French or Indian performed in England
Please be aware that there are other dance organisations in the UK that specialise in folk dances from other countries… These groups may represent and showcase these dances in a way that is better than EFDSS could.
Absolutely! It has never been our intention to represent every folk tradition. We know that we are not qualified to do so. We are clear that our remit is centred around the folk arts of England. Of course these traditions evolve over time and always have done – so we believe that creating a rigid definition is impossible.
Folk Arts England sounds better to me, but I wonder why it has to specify England at all. I guess maybe for bureaucratic reasons, like the Arts Council and so on?
Does it have to be England. Maybe its time to take a broader view… British, European…
Why is there a need for the word ‘England’ or ‘English’? ‘The Open’ is the British Open Golf Tournament, ‘The Grand National’ is the English Grand National (other countries put their nation’s name in front of it).
Omitting the word ‘England’ from our name could be seen as presumptive and could belittle the wonderful work of organisations which represent the folk music, folk dance and related folk arts of Wales, Scotland and Ireland (and further afield).
In addition, a considerable proportion of our income comes from our status as a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England – approximately four times the size of our membership subscriptions, in fact.
Many of our educational resources are tailored to the English curriculum and our location-specific activities are restricted to England.
Including ‘England’ when you have so much Cornish material is hugely problematic. You will fail to engage with large sections of the Cornish population who will disengage with ‘England’ or ‘English’.
We do take your point, but see above.
Both the current name and the proposed name assume that England has a single folk arts culture. This is far from true as folk culture is highly regional.
We feel that the new name would at least partially address this concern, as ‘England’ is less suggestive of a single identity than ‘English’.
I quite like the new name, it sounds modern and less pretentious, though a bit more shallow and almost bureaucratic. A society is made up of people, while ‘Folk Arts England’ doesn’t have this connotation of being a collaborative, grassroots, community-driven organisation. Instead, I feel it gives connotations of being corporate or industry-driven.
Our research has shown that while the word ‘society’ has very positive connotations for everyone who is involved in our activities, it has the opposite effect for someone who thinks of themselves as an outsider; our current name suggests that we are a private club, to which they are not invited.
Folk Arts England sounds and looks like it would abbreviate to ‘FArts England’.
Having been known by many different disparaging names over the decades, we are prepared to accept the risk that some people would choose to call us that!
If the proposed name change does not include a change of the remit, then what is the plan? To have a name that sounds inclusive in the hopes that when audiences who do not like English folk arts come into contact with the organisation, they are unwittingly exposed to English folk music and dance and realise that they do like it after all?
It is more that the current name, and its impenetrable acronym, puts people off before they have even considered whether they like what we do. A different name would side-step many preconceptions.
Wow, stand strong, do not be chipped at by the wokists... They would love you to erase and dilute our Englishness out of it… I knew this was coming, you weak lot, do you even consider what this dilution is doing for the white indigenous people of this country? I am saddened and hugely disgusted, sickened and disappointed with you, but not shocked.
The folk scene prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming to absolutely everyone. We do not believe widened engagement will dilute anything – but it may ensure its survival.
The Board continues to believe that a change of name is vital to the future of the organisation. We need far more people to have some understanding of who we are and of what we do. If we are to widen our appeal, our name must be clear and concise, rather than an acronym that always has to be explained. If we are to celebrate and represent the folk music, dance, customs and traditions of England as being at the very centre of our cultural life, we need a name that everyone, going well beyond our core community of committed members, easily understands.
However, we recognise the strength of feeling of those loyal members who do not agree and we are not going to rush into any change.
We hope that this article will bring some reassurance about our long-term intentions.
We will continue to work on how we can achieve our aims and objectives – and a crucial part of this will be how we represent more effectively, to everyone, all the amazing work that we do.
Photograph taken in East Sussex by Kai Bossom / Unsplash
