On the Board
Activities and Initiatives of the SJFAC Board of Directors

Besides dealing with the regular day-to-day activities of the Folk Arts Council and the massive work of pulling together the festival, the Board members and Erin McArthur, our Office Manager and Festival Coordinator, have been considering the future direction, programming and stability of the Council. As an extension of their work on the website, J Barry and Glen Collins have provided the Board with two detailed studies that look at how the Council presents itself and raise questions of demographics and marketing. These issues are still being discussed, but already the effect of J and Glen's work can be seen. The festival posters and much of the SJFAC promotional material have a new look, one that fits beautifully with the new design of the website. The studies were funded by a federal grant and should help us find ways to promote and celebrate the folk traditions of the province in increasingly effective ways. 

We were delighted to receive sustaining funding for three years from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council this spring. That support will go a long way to helping ensure we have the funds to operate the Council office and to continue expanding our programming. We are still waiting on word from the Canada Council about a grant application for a small storytelling event we hope to hold in November; if that funding comes through, get your ears ready. The line-up will include some fabulous performers from St. John's, around the bay and the Mainland. And, as usual, Erin and Jean have logged many, many hours applying for funding for this year's Festival. 

The Board also agreed to invite a new member on to the Festival Committee - a Youth Representative who can speak to the concerns and interests of young performers and audience members. Steve Aylward, mandolin player for Bart and the Bread Picks, has kindly agreed to serve in this capacity, and is already proving an invaluable member of the committee.  Thanks, Steve! 

The marvellous success of last year's accordion calendar has paved the way for more. Intrepid calendar idealist Andrew Lang and photographer Sheilagh O'Leary are on the prowl again - this time seeking out the finest the province has to offer in naked guitar players. A collectible for sure! Plans are to have the calendar ready for the festival, if possible. As well, look for the new design of the festival t-shirt. Caroline Clarke, who has already designed a lovely t-shirt for Folk Night, has taken on the job. The new t-shirt will be fabulous, if Caroline's previous work is anything to go by. Caroline is also responsible for the wonderful new look of the Broadside, and has taken the job of programming Folk Night off the hands of the very busy Jean Hewson.