Based in Hull’s historic waterfront area, and established in 1990 as a sea shanty festival, this is a much-loved event in the local calendar, attracting several thousand visitors.

The festival is long-standing and much loved, but is currently under threat due to a reduction in funding, so a group of community-minded musicians are setting up the ‘Folk In Hull’ charity to preserve it and create a legacy that will allow it to flourish in the future.

Rather than introduce entry costs that would require road closures and extra staffing and security, we want to retain the current scale and feel of the event; despite its popularity, it has a cosy, intimate ambience, and we don’t want to risk losing that.

There are already several thousand pounds worth of support in place from the City Council and local business, but more is needed if this largely free street festival is to maintain the quality it has become known for over the years and which the city deserves.

What we'll deliver:

• Host 40+ music acts, with local, regional and national/international profiles, mostly free of charge.
• Host traditional dance displays, featuring dance teams from across the country, all free of charge
• Provide free access to historic vessels moored up in the marina over the weekend.
• Provide free spoken word performances, folk art, talks, exhibitions and seminars and participatory music sessions

Why it's a great idea:

Hull has played an important part in reviving and preserving the folk heritage of these islands, and we want to ensure that this continues by developing an event that is valued and respected and attracts some of the many thousands of serious folk festival attendees across Europe.

We must also engage with young people if we want those traditions to survive. Many music lovers – especially younger ones - are already immersed in the current popularity of acoustic/folk music, and we want to engage them with the kind of music that gave rise to their contemporary heroes.

The festival also provides an economic boost to the shops, pubs and cafes in the local area.

Steps to get it done:

• Pay for the festival's logistics and staging costs
• Book the kind of quality acts that the festival-goers have become used to seeing.
• Pay for the marketing, publicity and promotion of the festival

The festival will feature international, regional and local acts, performing at mostly free of charge outdoor and indoor venues, participatory singing and playing sessions in Old Town pubs, traditional sea vessels moored up in the marina hosting maritime activities and performances, and educational opportunities such as lectures, films and workshops. The music will be supplemented and complemented by folk dance performances and folk arts/crafts, and there will be the opportunity for members of the public – especially children - to try out these activities for themselves.