Professor Fay Hield, Dr Rebecca Draisey-Collishaw, Dr Esbjörn Wettermark, Dr Helen Grindley and , (Access Folk Project, School of Languages, Arts and Societies) have been awarded the team prize in the 2025 Open Research Prize for the ‘Ask a Friend’ work package.
The Access Folk Project aims to increase the accessibility of participating in folk music amongst diverse audiences. ‘Ask a Friend’, set out to understand how folk singing is perceived by those outside the scene. In autumn 2022, 22 folk scene participants interviewed 61 friends and acquaintances with little or no direct involvement in folk singing. These interviews explored interviewees’ artistic backgrounds, their attitudes toward folk music, and their reactions to key terms such as "folk music" and "folk club."
The findings, compiled by a team of academic and community co-researchers, offer valuable insights and practical recommendations for anyone seeking to broaden engagement with folk singing.
Congratulations to the researchers on this wonderful achievement!