History
FOLK HARBOUR
Original concept (1986) for an Exposition Of Traditional and Contemporary Music From the Maritimes and Beyond
Background:
For several years, many here felt that Lunenburg would be a good setting for a festival of “traditional” or “folk” music — music that is rooted in the history and culture of Nova Scotia and its neighbours on the North Atlantic.
Founded in 1753, around a calm, picturesque harbour, with it’s intimate connections to the fishery and the romantic age of sail, Lunenburg forms a perfect setting for the enjoyment of sea songs and shanties, of ballads historical and heroic. What better place to savor the instrumental traditions which underlie the maritime folk music genre.
The Town is geographically situated at the center of several concentric circles which encompass common elements of history, ethnicity, culture, and musical tradition. The affirmation of these themes through the medium of a musical exposition would become a part of the Town’s revitalization effort. Like the Town of Lunenburg, folk music is undergoing transformation of it’s traditional boundaries. Folk Harbour would foster experimentation while respecting our maritime musical heritage.
Such a festival would put Lunenburg “on the map” in an entirely new way. The month of August has long been a lull between July’s Craft Festival, and the Fisheries Exhibition in September. This music festival, held in August, would become a new item on the Town’s tourist calendar, and would attract an ardent interest group of performers, participants and audience members. Held over a two day and three night period, (Friday night through Sunday night), on an annual basis, the festival would be of immediate, and long-term financial benefit to both the Town of Lunenburg and the surrounding County. (Ed. note: It is now 4 evenings and 3 days.)
The event would be promoted and produced as an exposition, or musical conference. In the Town setting, these festivities would be given a structure, and the organizers would work with municipal authorities to guarantee both audience and performers a memorable week-end of quiet musical enjoyment. This attention to security would enhance the long term development potential of Folk Harbour, and would protect the image of the Town of Lunenburg in hosting the event.
Mission Statement
The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is a non-profit volunteer-based family-focused community organization which strives to celebrate the joy of traditional and contemporary folk music, dance and oral history through an annual festival and other events during the year.
The Mandate of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society is to provide an environment in which both traditional musical values and exploration within the folk music genre are encouraged and honoured and to...
a) recognize dance as an integral component of musical expression
b)acknowledge the importance of oral traditional as part of folk music
c)ensure performers have an enjoyable and beneficial experience
d)offer our audience a comfortable, intimate listening and learning experience and opportunities to create connections with performers
e)offer our audience the opportunity to enhance their experience at the festival by participating in learning-based workshops
f)treat our volunteers and staff with respect and care, providing them with opportunities for personal and professional growth and adequate compensation for a job well done
g)foster a community of cooperation and communication within the organization by upholding respect for others as a primary goal h)offer all constituents ample opportunity to have input into the operation of the Festival and other events
i)enhance the economic health of the town of Lunenburg, surrounds, and province of Nova Scotia by offering a high quality product that attracts visitors and leaves them with a positive attitude
j)enhance the cultural life of the community establishing a easily accessible and visible presence in the community which encourages performance of, participation in, and purchase of folk music
k)operate, by way of grants, tickets sales, and donations, a fiscally responsible organization, acquiring whatever supplies and property are deemed necessary to meet the objectives of the Society
l)adhere to the operating procedures and artistic directives set out in our strategic plan
Statement of Artistic Vision
To share traditional and contemporary folk music highlighting the culture and history of Nova Scotia and other North Atlantic regions through music, dance and other forms of artistic expression presented through events and educational experiences which celebrates the ever-changing nature of traditional music.
