Name Change: Frequently Asked Questions
This vote has now taken place.
From the voting process to a new visual identity, we answer some of your burning questions about our proposed name change to Folk England.
What are we proposing to be changed?
Members are being asked to vote on changing the legal name of the organisation from English Folk Dance and Song Society to Folk England. We will not be changing our charitable objects or any other aspect of our memorandum and articles, as these are all still fit for purpose.
What has been the process for this name change?
This began in 2020/21, when when we carried out a survey asking people for their views on the connotations of the phrases ‘English Folk’ and ‘Folk England’. A name shortlist was drawn up and then surveyed amongst staff and regular EFDSS collaborators.
In 2022, we launched a members’ consultation to canvas views on English Folk Dance and Song Society and Folk Arts England, followed by a wider survey to Cecil Sharp House audiences, email subscribers, social followers and beyond. In autumn, the name change was paused due to more immediate financial concerns.
In 2024, this came back to the table, and the board agreed to a name change to Folk England. In Spring 2025, focus groups were held to gather more in-depth feedback on the proposed name change. In June 2025, we announced our plans to members and held online meetings in June and July.
When are you planning to change the name to Folk England?
If members agree to make the change, we would plan to roll out the new name over the summer of 2026, with the new name and brand fully in place in Autumn 2026. This timeframe is subject to change.
Will there be a new logo?
Yes, with this rebrand we will create a new visual identity (including logo, colour palette, fonts, messaging). At this stage, we don’t know how this will look, but we will ensure that it resonates with both existing members and new audiences.
Is this costing much?
So far, with the exception of a small fee to undertake a quantitative survey in 2021, we haven’t spent anything more than staff time. We haven’t hired corporate consultants or branding experts; the process has been led and driven by the in-house EFDSS team, including a brand audit, the research and planning process, and they will oversee the brand roll-out and launch campaign in 2026.
However, we will require expertise to help develop a new brand identity and update all points of contact and materials, so we will expect to engage the services of a design agency for this work. We will also be exploring options to secure this professional advice on a reduced-fee or pro bono basis.
We usually handle AGM votes in-house, but for this important vote we shall invest in the services of independent voting managers. We are reallocating existing budget into this project to cover design and branding work, website developments and related media campaigns
Will you create a new website?
This could be a great opportunity to breathe new life into our 93-year-old organisation, with a facelift – and new website. However, at this stage we haven’t decided whether the website will undergo just a visual rebranding or a bigger structural rebrand – this is dependent on budget and organisational needs.
What will happen in autumn 2026?
We see this as a one-off opportunity to make a bold statement – and officially unveil Folk England. We plan to make noise about our new brand with a launch campaign (including press, content) creating awareness for Folk England – who we are and what we do in 2025– and ultimately this will build profile and give a boost for the folk arts as a whole,
Will the new name change the emphasis from English, as the influence of the language, to representing England?
We are not going to stop honouring any folk traditions in the English language wherever they are. We have – and will continue to have – relationships and collections that expand beyond England such as Cecil Sharp’s Appalachian material.
Will the organisation’s remit change?
We are not planning to change what we do: the new name will more accurately describe what we do now. Like the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Folk England will cover the folk arts – primarily music, song and dance – in the geographical location of England. This is and will remain our remit as a charity.
This means we will continue to cherish the early folk collections from when the Society was set up (which are a very important part of our library and archive), and to support English folk music, song and dance that celebrate our traditions. However, this is only part of the story. We will also champion the wealth of folk practices, as long as they’ve got roots in tradition, that are happening in communities in England today. This includes exploring creative partnerships that connect English folk arts with traditions which originated in other places. We have already been doing this for the past decade or so, with projects including Bhangra Ceilidh. Folk England signals that our door is open to everyone, and our new name will give us the flexibility to continue doing this
Why not Folk Britain or Folk UK instead of Folk England?
We’re the national development organisation for preserving, protecting, disseminating and promoting the folk arts in England – not the UK. Britain is not our remit, and we have no plans to change this.
What about people who live outside England?
Folk has never respected national boundaries, and our work has never been rigidly restricted within England. For example, over 10% of users of our online archives are based in the United States; and many of these archives were collected outside England. Having England in our name will not affect our international outlook.
Why haven’t you chosen Folk Arts England?
We canvassed for opinions on Folk Arts England in 2021, but it was decided that ‘the Arts’ is more widely associated with visual arts rather than the performing arts, and for the folk arts, this could include artisan crafts like wood carvings, corn dolly making, and barge painting – which are not within our remit. There was also concern over changing our name to one that was used by a now defunct organisation, and the confusion that this could potentially cause.
When will the 2025 Annual General Meeting be taking place?
The AGM will take place on Saturday 8 November at 11am and members can attend online (via zoom). This is an online meeting only.
How can I vote in the name change motion?
We will be using Civica to manage the voting ahead of the AGM. They have over 100 years’ experience of managing elections, ballots and voting. They’ll send out the ballot papers to members, and the votes will be collated and counted by Civica.
Unless you have already voted in advance by post or online, you will have the opportunity to vote during the online AGM meeting
When will I receive my voting papers?
We are finalising the schedule, but we envisage it being early to mid-October.
On Friday 10 October, current members (with an email address) will receive an email from CES (Civica) with the AGM Agenda and Ballot Paper with instructions that will link through to the voting page. Online proxy voting will be open from that point, and members will have until 23.59 on Tuesday 4 November to vote online.
Postal ballot papers will be dispatched on 10 October to those members who have opted to receive their proxy vote by post.
Will people who become members after 10 October still get the opportunity to vote?
New members joining before midday on Monday 3 November will receive a proxy vote via email (online voting closes on Tuesday 4 November at 23.59).
New members joining between midday on Monday 3 November and midnight on Thursday 6 November will need to join the AGM meeting to get to vote 'in person' online at the Zoom meeting on Saturday 8 November at 11.00.
Anyone joining after midnight on Thursday 6 November will not be eligible to vote.
Is this about ticking Arts Council funding boxes?
No. The current name does not reflect who we are and what we do in 2025 – it is a hindrance to welcoming new people to the world of folk arts. We certainly expect that this name change will provide new opportunities, including funding, however this is not our key driver. We have alerted ACE to our proposal and received a very positive response.
