About Folk South West

• About Us
• Patrons
• Trustees
• Staff

About Us

Folk South West is the folk arts development organisation for the South West of England. We receive core funding from Arts Council England.

We work to stimulate enjoyment, participation and creativity in the music, song, dance and traditions of the South West.

The main areas of our work are in:

• Education and Training
• Recordings and Publications
• Local and Community Projects
• Work with Folk Professionals and Enthusiasts
• The operation of an information, advice and guidance service on folk related matters

We cover the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire and the unitary authorities of Bath & North East Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, North Somerset, Plymouth, Poole, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Torbay.

Founded in 1992, we became a registered charity (no. 1037730) in 1994, and are a company limited by guarantee (no. 2908476). We are governed by a board of Trustees.

We publish half-yearly Newsletters, Annual Reviews. Our first twelve years are reviewed in our publication 'Tradition with Innovation'. All of these are available for download from the Archive section of this page.

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FSW Partnerships

We work in partnership with a wide range of organisations - local authorities, arts centres, schools, community education, the National Trust and many others.

We can provide the expertise to run series of workshops and then direct the final performance - you provide the venues and marketing.

Up to a half-day of free advice can be provided to non-profit making organisations.

We work in partnership with a variety of funders - including grant making trusts, businesses, local authorities, European Union and other public organisations. Grants from the National Lottery and lottery-funded schemes have helped us considerably - our Live Wires project was supported by a grant of £135,000 from Youth Music.

Our warm thanks go to Arts Council England, South West and its predecessor, South West Arts, for their support of our work.

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Our Patrons

The Right Hon. Lord Ashdown of Norton sub Hamdon

Shirley Collins

Bonnie Sartin
Pete Shutler
Mac McCulloch

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Our Trustees

We have a board of trustees who meet regularly and who also contribute specialist advice in areas such as training, marketing and public relations. Our board is selected to give a wide range of experience from the business, public and voluntary sectors.

John Braithwaite (Chair) Is a businessman and consultant in the software industry.

David Clitheroe Formerly Head of Somerset Probation Service.

The Ven. John Reed Archdeacon of Taunton.

John Shirley Is a businessman with an interest in the arts.

Chartwell Dutiro Is a Zimbabwean musician who has toured the world with Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited. He now lives in Devon.

Paul Tabbush Paul Tabbush was Head of Social and Economic Research at the Forestry Commission until 2007. He is now an Advisor to them and has recently co-edited a book entitled Sustainability Impact Assessment of Land Use Changes.

DR. X Dr. X is a disfigured and reclusive genius, current whereabouts unknown. He now spends his time setting devious, dastardly and FIENDISH treasure hunt trails. Dr. X is also a keen admirer of folk music. Already on the trail? Then Dr. X has this for you: “Walk the red carpet to an engine room?” Who is Dr. X? Find out more at www.drxtreasurehunts.co.uk

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Our Staff

Eddie Upton (Director) Is a leading figure in the folk arts nationally and has been a professional folk artist, composer, organiser and trainer since 1980.

Philippa Toulson (Education & Training Co-ordinator) Is a qualified teacher and has strong connections with the South West region.