Poet Charles Olson asks, "Can you afford not to make the magical study which happiness is?" I am fascinated by the alchemy of the questions we ask ourselves; questions have the power to expand or contract one's world. This magical study is teaching me to pose powerful questions.

The cover photographs of the young-folk bands are imported from the Web site. I apologize for the poor quality; I'm still working out technical problems. I chose to print them for a particular reason, though: copies of the newsletters of the St. John's Folk Arts Council, in all its incarnations, are archived at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies in the QE II Library at Memorial University. In years to come, when these young folk are established musicians, their participation in Young Folk at the Hall will be documented in hard copy at the library.

The workshop series is the Folk Arts Council's mandate in action. I'm delighted that we've been able to print participant comments for you in this issue of the newsletter. We'll cover upcoming workshops as well.

Oftentimes, inspiration comes in the form "Why doesn't anybody…?" Dave Penny spoke to me in that tone of voice a few weeks ago; we are collaborating on a FOLKUS-type article about Vince Collins for the next issue of The Broadside. Also, look forward to an article by Greg Walsh about the music collection in the Provincial Archives.

My thanks, as always, to contributors to this issue. Special thanks to Rick West and Linda Russell for their assistance. I am especially grateful to Rick for guidance that helped me tame my unruly computer!

I would ask you, please, to pay attention when you ask a why-doesn't-anybody-type question. You may have a good idea. Share it with somebody: share it with me! I look forward to future newsletters being the 'brainchildren' of the Folk Arts Council collective.

Support local artists and write for The Broadside.

Submission deadline for the Festival Issue: July 1, 2002