Who we are
At the English Folk Dance and Song Society, we champion the folk arts at the heart of England’s rich and diverse cultural landscape.
We are a Registered Charity, with regular funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.
We want everyone across England – of all ages and backgrounds – to enjoy the folk arts in high-quality, relevant and inspiring ways.
We work with fantastic specialists who have a passion for folk, and the expertise to pass this on.
Striving for equity and diversity – developing, challenging and expanding thinking and practice throughout the folk arts – is central to everything that we do.
We have a long history – we were founded in 1932 with the merger of two organisations that started in 1898 and 1911.
Our individual members include thousands of folk artists, who are active as amateurs and professionals. Our group members are dance or song clubs, schools, festivals and other organisations. By being members, all of them support our charitable work.
Support us, and support the folk arts
We champion folk music and dance at the heart of cultural life, all across England.
Donations provide immediate support. But even more than that, they prove that so many people value what we do – helping us to secure funding from partner organisations.