Experiences of accessing folk singing in England

Folk singing in England today is dominated by people in a narrow demographic profile. Calls from within the folk scene for increased diversity have not yielded change. Existing literature suggests solutions from within the practice, but lacks insight into the perspectives of marginalised people and non-participants. Learning how to increase and diversify participation in folk singing is the Access Folk project’s goal. Stage one sought to understand where we are now, through the eyes of participants and non-participants, to ascertain the adaptations needed to facilitate their involvement. We have engaged with over a thousand people through four data collection projects: a survey, extended focus groups, a peer interview scheme, and artistic research. These findings will be used in stage two to develop potential solutions. Despite a desire for inclusivity, barriers persist, including events tailored to specific preferences and a lack of knowledge from non-singers about the activities and from organisers about the needs of those they want to attract. While many people feel accepted, both insiders and outsiders view the folk scene as potentially unwelcoming or unsafe for certain groups, highlighting a contradiction between the desire for diversity and existing structural or ideological limitations. Recognising and addressing these factors will be crucial for increasing accessibility and diversity in folk singing activities.