Join the Folk Education Network
Membership of the Network and attendance at the Folk Education Development Days is free.
More information on how to become a member
The Folk Education Network is the national networking group for folk arts educators from across England and beyond. It was established by the English Folk Dance and Song Society in 2011, and was originally called the Folk Educators Group. The growing Network is committed to promoting high quality folk arts education, and to supporting the practitioners who deliver it.
It exists to provide peer information and support, and to encourage dialogue with the wider worlds of culture, learning and participation. The FolkEducation Network also offers other organisations a platform through which to consult, or inform, a committed group of folk arts educators.
The FolkEducation Network is for all practitioners involved in folk arts education in any context including those working in schools, with youth groups, in adult learning and/or community settings. Although aimed at folk arts educators in England, practitioners from across the UK and beyond are welcome to join.
I'm very impressed by the strength and breadth of knowledge shown by the many passionate, talented and dedicated folk music practitioners. It feels like, while there may be challenges ahead for traditional education, there are many great educators ready to take things on board!
Pete Taylor, Singing Project Coordinator, Sheffield Music Hub
Folk Education Development Days
We run three FREE Folk Education Development Days a year. These are dedicated full-day events packed with professional development opportunities, information sharing and networking. They take place at different locations around the country and are for anyone who is working in or interested in folk arts learning and participation.
We also run some shorter online discussion sessions.
The next Folk Education Development Day will be held on Thursday 24 February 2022. The Folk Education Network presents a lively informal conference of presentations, panel discussions and workshops on the subject of Youth-friendly Folk.
Next Folk Education Development Events:
Folk Educators Open Space
A drop-in hour to talk, share your thoughts and experiences and challenges of working during the pandemic. Inspired by and in collaboration with English Folk Expo's Folk Talk Together initiative. The session will be hosted by EFDSS and chaired by Folk Educators Group member David Brookhouse on Zoom.
Wednesdays evenings 8–9pm
To join the sessions and to share any thoughts or requests, please email Kerry Fletcher, Folk Educators Group Co-ordinator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Getting Back to Dancing in Person
Saturday 18 September 2021, 10am–1pm
Free, on Zoom
A focussed event for all social folk dancer callers, organisers and educators. Mutual support and sharing of thoughts, experiences and challenges ahead as we get back to dancing in person.
Speakers:
Dr Wendy Timmons, Vice Convenor of the Traditional Dance Forum Scotland and Programme Director, MSc Dance Science and Education, University of Edinburgh. Wendy has many years of professional arts practice and experience teaching and training dance artists, young dancers and dance teachers and has recently been running a micro-grant funding programme, Getting Back to Dancing, to help callers and community dance artists to plan and /or run dances in person.
Jane Curry and Andrew Findlay from The London Barn Dance Company who run the acclaimed monthly contra dance at Cecil Sharp House and are trialling a hybrid model of live stream and live in person dancing.
John Sweeney, folk dance caller and organiser of Kent Ceilidhs and Contrafusion, who has already started back with some of his regular dances, with precautions, and is building confidence in his dancers to return.
The most recent Folk Education Network event, on the topic of Diversifying Folk Education, took place online (via Zoom) on Wednesday 30 June 2021.
Watch the speakers on our Youtube video
00:00 - 06:23 Introduction from Rachel Elliott
06:23 - 43:42 Tina K. Ramnarine
44:28 - 55:30 David Brookhouse
55:32 Aziz Ibrahim
Archive: Past Folk Education Development Days
Join the Folk Education Network
Membership of the Group and attendance at the Folk Education Development Days is free. As a member you can access the members’ only Facebook site, which allows you to share good practice, advertise job opportunities and get in touch with other members.
To register, please visit the Folk Education Network Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/folkeducators
For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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