Newsletter #50 - South Riding Folk Arts Network

THE LAST OF MAY
–Ron Day on the end of an era
2005 was a good year both for the South Riding
Folk Arts Network and for Kelham Island Industrial
Museum. The Mayfest – or Kelham Island Folk
Festival – was as enjoyable and successful as any
in the last decade, and the annual Victorian Christmas
Market was judged to have been an enormous
success, despite the road and re-development
works which are transforming the area.
However, like all good things, which, as they say,
must come to an end, changes at the museum
have brought about the end of the Mayfest, and
new thinking for future Christmas Markets.
For over a decade our partnership with the museum
has been the most important relationship enjoyed
by the SRFAN. We have organised the traditional
music and dance, to create the right atmosphere
for museum events and visitors. Much of our music
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dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, the period
of our greatest industrial development, and so we
have felt very comfortable working together.
Basically, the museum has underwritten these
activities, putting considerable sums – over the
decade – into the local folk economy. Increasing
pressure on museum running costs mean that in
the future, the museum will need to look for partners
to promote events which are self-sufficient, and
whose organisers will hire the facilities at an
economic (open market) rate.
The Network is not in a position to do this and can’t
take that sort of financial risk; this combined with
the fact that Jenny and Ron Day – who have been
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The Secretary, South Riding Folk Arts Network: 24 Chapel Street, Mosborough, Sheffield S20 5BT
South Riding Folk Arts Network News No. 50
involved at the ‘sharp end’ for many of the last ten
years – are in need of a rest, has brought us to the
current decision.
SRFAN will still work with the museum in many
ways. For one thing, we have an as-yet unfulfilled
ambition to create a dedicated multi-purpose
performance space in the exhibition hall – much
talking and fundraising to do for that one.
The Network has helped to broker the burgeoning
relationship with the new Sheffield Folk Festival,
which, for the past two Octobers, has been based
in and around the museum. We will also continue
to use the museum for other events in which we
have an interest.
We cannot overstate our debt to the museum and
all their staff for their support and trust during the
last ten years, and we wish them well in their
endeavours during these difficult times.
Family (£10) Group (£10)
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Signed ...........................................................
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