Folkmoot reflects on 2015, celebrates the New Year
Dear Friends: It’s New Years Eve and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all that you contribute to Folkmoot’s mission of building cultural understanding. Whether you are a volunteer, a seasonal worker, a financial contributor, a board member, a grantor or sponsor, staff person or ticket buyer, we share in the success of Folkmoot.
Here are a few highlights we can all celebrate:
• We hosted a 10-day dance heritage festival in July 2015 (for our 32nd year!), hosting groups from Chile, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Ecuador, Cherokee, Jamaica and French Canada and producing 36 performances across Western North Carolina.
• Folkmoot developed a year-round programming schedule that includes arts and culture instructional workshops, a family-fun cultural series and seasonal events for the community. (Thanks to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for the additional staffing that made this possible!)
• Our team has stabilized the Historic Hazelwood Elementary School structure by replacing the roof, plastering and painting walls, refinishing floors. We’ve also replaced broken windows, plumbing and several heating units. Consider taking a tour of the Friendship Center to see our progress and learn how to get involved.
We couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you. 2016 will be another transformative year for Folkmoot — our resolution is to build desirable, viable and sustainable programs at the Folkmoot Friendship Center.
You can expect the following:
• Grant awards that will allow Folkmoot to make significant, much-needed upgrades to the Friendship Center for comfortable year-around use and to participate in projects that enhance our neighborhood.
• New instructional, creative programming that appeals to the community, school groups, youth and families.
• Musical events in our refurbished auditorium!
• Professional Artist Markets during Folkmoot and at the Friendship Center throughout the year.
• Eight to 12 performing groups at the festival in July and visiting cultural groups at other times.
• Community partnerships that will make the Center’s commercial kitchen useful to local food producers; other partnerships that will generate unique and innovative opportunities at the Center.
Thanks for your generosity and Happy New Year to you and yours! I will look forward to seeing you in 2016.
Angeline Schwab
Executive Director
Folkmoot USA
