=='''The Folk Federation of NSW'''==
The aims of the Folk Federation of New South Wales (NSW) are to present [[Folk music | folk music]], [[Folk dance|folk dance]] and [[Folklore | folklore]] as it exists in Australia today in all its most genuine and valuable musical, social, historical, cultural and pleasurable forms.[1]</nowiki> The Federation is a peak body representing the wider folk arts in NSW and is affiliated with the National body, Folk Alliance Australia.<ref>https://www.folkalliance.org.au Folk Alliance Australia/</ref> It currently provides a website with upcoming events, a list of performers and the latest news.[2]</nowiki> It also publishes a weekly email newsletter, FolkMail, which advertises events, broadcasts and other related items.[3]</nowiki> It hosts occasional concerts and festivals<ref>https://www.sydneyfolkfestival.com.au/</ref> and since 2018 it has facilitated annual Young Folk Artist awards.[4]</nowiki> The Federation also advocates to government in support of its objectives and applies for funding support for the folk arts as well as auspicing smaller groups or individuals in their requests for support.[5]</nowiki>
===Origins and Early Role===
The Federation was founded in 1970.[1] It grew from the first Port Jackson Folk Festival, 24-26 January 1970.<ref>https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-133708325/view</ref> This festival was also the fourth [[National Folk Festival (Australia)| National Folk Festival]], the first being held in Melbourne in 1967. The committee that organised the festival included Danny Watson, [[Warren Fahey|Warren Fahey]], and Bernard Bolan.<ref>https://www.bernardbolan.com/bio.html</ref> Following the success of the festival the committee met subsequently in February 1970 and by April 1970 had formed the Folk Federation of New South Wales.[1]
One of the first actions of the new federation was to organise a concert tour by the famous English folklorist [[A. L. Lloyd|A. L(Bert) Lloyd]]. It also promoted performances, workshops and the collection of folklore by field recordings.[1] In January 1973 the Federation hosted the second Port Jackson Folk Festival in which the main evening concerts were compered by the well-known broadcaster [[Bill Peach|Bill Peach]]. Some of the performers were Phyl Lobl,<ref>https://firstaustralianwomenssongbook.com/home-first-australian-womens-songbook/the-songwriters/phyl-lobl/</ref> [[Dave de Hugard|Dave de Hugard]], the [[Bush Music Club|Bush Music Club]] and Bernard Bolan.<ref> New South Wales Folk Federation Newsletter, Issue 16, Dec 1972</ref>
Several years later, the Federation organised the ninth National Folk Festival at Sydney University, Easter 1975.<ref> New South Wales Folk Federation Newsletter, Issue 32, Apr 1975</ref> At that stage the National Folk Festival rotated around the capital cities and so the Federation also organised the 16th National Folk Festival, 8th-12th April 1982. This included an opening concert at the Sydney Opera House featuring performers [[Sirocco (band)|Sirocco]], [[Judy Small|Judy Small]]. Bernard Bolan and Phyl Lobl.<ref> New South Wales Folk Federation Newsletter, Issue 109, April 1982</ref> The Federation organised the 22nd National Festival at Sutherland over the Easter weekend in 1988. The size of the Festival had been increasing and the 1988 Festival had over 200 performers, including overseas artists [[Martyn Wyndham-Read|Martin Wyndham-Read]] and [[Leon Rosselson|Leon Rosselson]] amongst others.<ref>The Cornstalk Gazette, Issue 176, April 1988</ref> Unfortunately, it was adversely affected by heavy rain and made a considerable financial loss. Subsequent National Festivals hosted elsewhere in 1989, 1990 and 1991 also made losses, consequently the decision was made to hold the festival permanently in Canberra, with a permanent professional management team.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Folk_Festival_(Australia)</ref>
===Folk Federation Newsletter, Cornstalk Gazette and Folkmail===
Since the Federation relinquished responsibility for hosting the National Folk Festival, its major role has been to provide coordination and communication between folk music performers, folk clubs and members of the Federation and others interested in the folk arts. The main channel for this communication was initially the Federation newsletter. The first Federation newsletter was published in May 1970 with subsequent issues every one-to-three months thereafter.[1] In 1985 the newsletter was renamed Cornstalk Gazette and appeared monthly as a printed copy circulated to members. In addition to the printed copy, an online version of Cornstalk was published from 2004 until publication of both print and online versions stopped in 2020.<ref>https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-434445560</ref> It was replaced by the weekly email newsletter FolkMail[3] and by a menu on the Federation website<ref name="website"/> called “Cornstalk” which is a news gathering section.
Folkmail and the Federation website are used by many folk clubs in the state to promote their events. In the early days these clubs included the Elizabeth Hotel, the Bush Music Club, the Gaelic Club, PACT Folk Club and The Shack Cooperative in Sydney and the Newcastle, Monaro and Wagga folk clubs in regional NSW. In the intervening years many folk clubs have appeared and disappeared but of the originals above, the Bush Music Club, the Gaelic Club, the Shack and the Monaro (Merry Muse) folk club are still operating.
===Current Roles===
The Federation continues to advocate for the folk arts in all their forms. It has run three successful folk festivals in Sydney in the last five years<ref>https://www.sydneyfolkfestival.com.au/about/</ref> as well as other concerts, most notably the Christmas concert where a locally written and performed [[Mummers' play|“Mummers Play”]] has been a regular feature. Since 2018 it has held an annual “Young Folk Artist” award providing cash prizes, mentoring and performance opportunities encouraging young artists to develop their skills in performance of folk arts.[4] There are currently two awards: one for performers aged under 19 and one for under 25.
An important role is to liaise between community and government to promote the folk arts. The Federation has been supported by grants from the City of Sydney, The Federal Government, the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, The Gaelic Club and the Teachers’ Federation of NSW.<ref>https://www.sydneyfolkfestival.com.au/about/</ref> It also auspices grant applications from smaller folk groups that require support from an incorporated organisation to administer their funds. The Federation makes submissions to government on matters pertaining to folk arts, including to the NSW state government’s first attempt to develop an arts and cultural policy in 2023,<ref> https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/arts-culture-creative-industries-policy</ref> as well as the federal government’s redrafting of a national cultural policy in 2022.<ref> https://www.arts.gov.au/what-we-do/new-national-cultural-policy</ref>
The Federation supports the many folk clubs in the state by helping to promote their events and there is currently an initiative to strengthen networks between folk clubs and other organisers of folk events by sharing information and experience.[5]
===References===