Help us plan for the future – Become a friend of The Sidmouth Folk Festival
In 1955 a group of enthusiasts from the English Folk Dance and Song Society organised a folk dance festival to run during the first week in August in the Devon seaside resort of Sidmouth. About 100 people came. From these modest beginnings the event has developed, attracting visitors and participants from the UK and the rest of the world. Over sixty years later the Festival is still a vibrant and innovative event. The Festival is based mainly in the town, with a huge variety of events reflecting the diversity of the folk arts, including dancing, singing, music and storytelling. There are concerts, dances and ceilidhs with leading artists, and we provide an extraordinary range of workshops to carry on these traditions, with participants of all ages. Since the Festival was relaunched under new management in 2005, we have had financial support from many sources, including local authorities and businesses. Now we are looking to recruit support from individuals and groups with an interest in the folk arts.
Why Join?
By becoming a Friend of The Sidmouth Folk Festival, you will help to make a contribution to the continued existence of the Festival and towards its development in future years. We are hoping to establish a community of people who value what the festival has achieved in the past and want to see this continue into the future for others to enjoy in years to come. The money raised by the Friends will be put into a fund administered by Sidmouth FolkWeek Ltd, a registered charity. It will then be used for specific events and projects such as showcasing young artists and the provision of workshops in the many aspects of the folk arts. Friends will be kept fully informed by email about how money from the fund is allocated. We are hoping to organise events for members during the year.
Click here to download an application form (pdf)
