It looks like this could be the end for the iconic Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, and the Folk Arts Society as a whole.
The society says this year’s festival, which is scheduled for July 11th to the 13th, will “likely be (the) last.”
President Julie Vogt says despite strong community support and successful fundraising efforts, the organization has lost “crucial” funding from ArtsNL, which is needed to pay staff and pay office expenses.
Folk Arts Society executive director Julie Vogt.
“They were absolutely right to take our funding because we didn’t do our jobs. And when you don’t have the benchmarks that they’re looking for, which were not outrageous, they were financial stability, we don’t have that. Solid board governance, we didn’t have that. Public sector engagement, I’m going to say last year was the first year we’ve had that in 10 years. And strategic planning, they didn’t look at the map that we had and didn’t operate within it. So this is the result. It is a surprise on one hand, but deserved on the other.”
Vogt says this year’s event will go on as planned, and will be a celebration of the festival’s legacy, and those that have made it possible.
