Folk Fest Society moving on up

The Prince George Folk Fest Society is making some moves to increase its scope and funding.

In a presentation to city council earlier this week, the group said they have achieved financial sustainability, and upgraded their status from community organization to professional presenters.

“Among our granters, we’ve been called a community arts organization, which is fantastic, it’s really a grassroots organization,” says Executive Director Elissa Meiklem, “Our first Folk Fest had really great artistic excellence, and we’ve always paid our artists, which is something we really believe in. So I think we’ve always operated as a professional organization, but the difference is the granting amounts. It allows for multi-year funding.”

The society faced a lot of money-related challenges when it came to looking at new event options because of the community organization label.

“One of the problems is it’s really hard for us to plan when you apply for grants the very same week our festival is on,” explains Meiklem, “You sort of have to commit to a format and a scope.”

In the past, the Folk Fest Society has operated on a 100% volunteer basis, but as interest grows, it’s had to expand.

“For the first year, we have a part-time artistic executive director who also has a full-time job,” says Meiklem, “The idea is that we recognize the passion the founders had, and our current board has. You have to be able to create an organization that lasts beyond individuals, and that’s why we feel it’s the right move to start increasing the size of the organization.”

The society took a risk back in 2007, when it switched a summer festival to the wintry whirlwind known as Cold Snap.

Members say the risk paid off, and the festival is looking at a very bright future.

“It’s been a long haul,” laughs Meiklem, “We got a lot of support from our local sponsors and production crews who really donated a lot of time and effort when we got started… Now we’re grown and successful and we can icnrease how much we pay our local suppliers and supporters and make this sustainable long-term.”