Education & Outreach Programs

A Song For All of Us

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of donors, the powerful nature of music is reaching new audiences at our annual festival – many who may not ever have had such an opportunity.

And far beyond our signature summer event at Birds Hill Provincial Park, the impact of music is felt through programs that actively contribute to our broader community all year long. More than 12,000 people have experienced these initiatives in the past year.

Free Concerts in the Heart of the City

• The festival concert series presents free noon-hour concerts during the summer in the historic Exchange District.
• The Folk Exchange is the festival’s own year-round venue for concerts, workshops, open mics, art exhibits and craft sales.

Inspiring Inner-City Youth

• The festival brings the spirit of discovery into high schools through the Musical Mentors Program, providing 80 students with the opportunity to make musical instruments out of found objects, write songs and create a music video. Participants perform in a culminating performance at the Park Theatre and are given an opportunity to record their original work in a full recording studio.

Fostering Youth Leadership

• The Apprentice Program builds community volunteerism in 125 youth each year.

Training Emerging Musicians

• More than 145 performers and visual artists participate in training and artist development programs each year.
• Numerous participants in the festival’s Young Performers and Folk Retreat programs have gone on to pursue professional careers and Manitobans like Del Barber, Sierra Noble, Sheena Grobb, Brandy Zdan, Jordan McConnell and Cara Luft have since come back to perform on festival stages.

Building Community

• More than 700 free tickets to the Winnipeg Folk Festival are distributed through over 30 local community organizations. Included with the tickets are transportation, meals and a personal tour of the festival in action.
• The Newcomers Program provides volunteer orientation and opportunities for those new to Canada or the festival. Over 30 participants will discover the festival volunteer community in 2011 and be positioned to become a part of the volunteer core in subsequent years.

Enriching Young Hearts & Minds

• The festival offers more than 14 free family concerts and festival-style workshops in partnership with the Winnipeg Public Library at the downtown Millennium Branch between September and April of each year.
• Over 3,500 children learn the value of music and artistic expression through the festival’s Family Area and our year-round family concerts.

Make a gift that makes a difference

• A $100 donation brings the magic of attending the festival to someone who can’t afford to buy a ticket
• Your support can inspire youth at risk to discover their talent and passion for musical expression as they learn to write and record songs
• A $200 gift offers an emerging musician the opportunity to develop their career by learning from world-class mentors
• A $50 gift brings festival-style performances to inner city families through free library and community concerts

Every gift is important to the Winnipeg Folk Festival. No matter what the size, your donation can help. We hope that you will consider a donation and invest in making a difference in our community.