After last month's announcement that their 2023 edition was cancelled — and that the event may never return — organizers behind the Vancouver Folk Music Festival have announced they will work to save the long-running fest.
"After hearing from you and working with our partners and funders, the folk fest board has voted to rescind the motion to dissolve the folk festival society," the festival's board of directors shared in an update today. Board members were due to vote on the motion to dissolve on February 1.
While the festival's board will continue to take ideas and suggestions on ways to save the event via an online survey, organizers stress, "The outpouring of love for the festival unfortunately does not change the difficult financial situation we continue to face."
"The bottom line is that to build a sustainable festival we need funds — not just now, but secured funding streams that continue into the years to come," the statement reads, pointing to the launch of the #FundTheFest campaign and a volunteer drive "to begin the work of building a sustainable and enduring Vancouver Folk Music Festival."
Complete #FundTheFest details can be found via the Vancouver Folk Music Festival's official website, with options available for one-time, monthly and "legacy" donations. As the guiding non-profit Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society is a registered charity, donations of $20 or more are eligible for a tax receipt, while those who donate $35 or more become voting members of the Society.
Founded in 1978, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has hosted concertgoers at the city's Jericho Beach Park for over 40 years.
After two years off due to the pandemic, the festival faced increased costs upon its 2022 return, with the board estimating a total cost of $500,000 per year to continue running the event.
"After hearing from you and working with our partners and funders, the folk fest board has voted to rescind the motion to dissolve the folk festival society," the festival's board of directors shared in an update today. Board members were due to vote on the motion to dissolve on February 1.
While the festival's board will continue to take ideas and suggestions on ways to save the event via an online survey, organizers stress, "The outpouring of love for the festival unfortunately does not change the difficult financial situation we continue to face."
"The bottom line is that to build a sustainable festival we need funds — not just now, but secured funding streams that continue into the years to come," the statement reads, pointing to the launch of the #FundTheFest campaign and a volunteer drive "to begin the work of building a sustainable and enduring Vancouver Folk Music Festival."
Complete #FundTheFest details can be found via the Vancouver Folk Music Festival's official website, with options available for one-time, monthly and "legacy" donations. As the guiding non-profit Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society is a registered charity, donations of $20 or more are eligible for a tax receipt, while those who donate $35 or more become voting members of the Society.
Founded in 1978, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has hosted concertgoers at the city's Jericho Beach Park for over 40 years.
After two years off due to the pandemic, the festival faced increased costs upon its 2022 return, with the board estimating a total cost of $500,000 per year to continue running the event.