📣Calling all Folk Musicians
Apply now for a Creative Bursary:
Full Bursary with Residency
● a bursary of up to £2,000
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
● up to five days of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House, London. Applicants that wish to work elsewhere will be considered but no additional funding for space hire will be available.
● additional funding for Access needs.
Research Bursary
● a bursary of £500
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 31 May 2026.
Find out more and apply now - link in bio - Latest News
A reminder that our new season is about to kick off!
Here's a look at just a few of the incredible artists visiting Cecil Sharp House over the next seven months. Check out the full line-up on our website via the link in bio.
Music: Milholo - Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango
Follow the @nationalyouthfolk National Youth Folk Ensemble from warm-up stretches, sound checks and rehearsal through to last month's packed out gig at @cecilsharphouse ; and @josax123 being awarded an EFDSS Gold Badge for her work as the Ensemble's Artistic Director, by children's author Michael Morpurgo.
What a night!
Photos by Roswitha Chesher @roswithaphotographyuk
What to be involved next time?
Come along to the National Youth Ensemble Open Days
Find out more - link in bio
Deadline approaching! ⏳⏲📣
Apply now for a Creative Bursary for Folk Musicians:
Full Bursary with Residency
● a bursary of up to £2,000
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
● up to five days of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House, London. Applicants that wish to work elsewhere will be considered but no additional funding for space hire will be available.
● additional funding for Access needs.
Research Bursary
● a bursary of £500
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 31 May 2026.
Find out more and apply now: https://bit.ly/4cYCT4z
This Saturday we are continuing the May-time Festivities.
The Merrie Merrie Month of May
The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House
Saturday, 16 May 2026
1-4pm (Drop in)
FREE
Sumer icumen in so join us in the Library on a deep dive into all things May.
From bringing in the May to Jack in the Green, Rogationtide, Whitsun and everything in between.
📷 Photos
📃 Archival documents
📚 Books
🎵 Music
📽️ Video recordings
And a chance to make your own 🌿May Garland!🌿
The summer is a-coming in
And winter’s gone away O!
Find out more - link in bio
Image: Garland Day, Castleton, 29 May 1900 See less
Our next Folk Education Development Day is taking place at The Folk of Gloucester
We're thrilled to announce our line up of presenters:
Alex Merry @alexmerryart (Boss Morris , artist and Illustrator) will talk about folk drama and new traditions and participation,
Steve Rowley (Glos Folk) who will talk about cultural heritage and how to make it accessible and relevant to today.
Deborah Gordon, Sarah Snell-Pym @snellpym and Jane Springham (Gloucester Storytelling Café);
Ally Goff @collaborativeartist (textile/mixed media artist and facilitator) and
Sorrel Wilde @sorrelsings (Gloucester Folk Choir and Sing Yourself In)
Wednesday 17 June
11am - 5pm
FREE!
Book your Free place now - link in bio
@offbeatfilm Festival screening of 'A Basket Full of Eggs' at the @mothclub on Sunday 10 May
The film was made as part of our Gypsy, Romani and Traveller project (with the Universities of East Anglia and Sheffield, and Romani production company @patrin_films ) is being screened as part of the Offbeat Folk Film Festival.
It's part of the event which starts at 6.30pm, Looking In, 'an evening of films about wider and more diverse voices in folk', which features seven shorts.
Find out more and book via @offbeatfilm
Jeff Warner plays concertina, banjo, guitar and several “pocket” instruments, including bones and spoons, connecting 21st-century audiences with the everyday lives – and artistry – of 19th-century Americans.
Among America's foremost interpreters of folk music, multi-instrumentalist Jeff brings songs from the lumber camps, fishing villages and mountaintops of America to London for an intimate show.
Wed 13 May | 7.30pm
@cecilsharphouse
Book now - link in bio
#TradNight
English Country Dancing Class - Maypole session
The EFDSS Maypole will be set up for at least the first half the evening to get those traditional celebrations of to a good start while having some Spring or Maytime dances in the other half.
This session will be lead by @mike.ruff.music author of The Maypole Manual as well as Morris Hey, Mike’s Quick and Simple Barn Dance Book and his soon to be released A Dance Through History – a History of English Country Dance and so it is more than likely that some of the dances from those books will appear.
Thu 30 Apr
7:30pm-9:30pm
Cecil Sharp House
Book now - Link in bio
Image: Ickwell, Bedfordshire, date unknown. Photo Vaughan Williams Memorial Library collection
Wootey Maypole Dancers!
Poppy Bastin was awarded one of our Dance Mini Grants last year and has been using the funds to teach Maypole Dancing to pupils at Wootey Infant and Junior Schools in Alton, East Hampshire @wooteyschools
You can see the Maypole dancing for yourself at the Spring Garden Fayre in Alton
Saturday 16 May
10am-3pm
Maypole dancing: 12 noon
Alton Public Gardens, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1JL
