Folk Alliance International
Platforming and advocacy is aided by commual organization. Some of the most effective ways to do this are through formal channels. Founded in 1989, Folk Alliance International (formerly North American folk music and dance alliance) hosts annual conferences for folk artists and other members to gather and network. They hold performances to showcase talent and their mission continues to be that of fostering a diverse environment for artists across all genres of folk to present their music.
From the opening page of the 1995 conference program (Left), Folk Alliance President Phyllis Barney writes of the importance of building community within folk music - the theme of that year's conference. Her emphasis that this theme "captures the spirit that founded the Folk Alliance" highlights the dedication among the organization to uplifting one another's art, particularly those who often go overlooked. Further in this program is the showcase of talent to perform during the duration of the conference (Below). Eight pages of artist profiles, this line-up presents a diverse range of artsists from Chinese string pair Silk Road, openly Lesbian singer Ferron, and Venezualan Singer Irene Farrera. By not limiting the showcase to the typical American folk artist we are so often fixed to, fellow artists and listeners are exposed to the diverse messages vying to be told through the musical medium.
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