The board of directors of the Winnipeg Folk Festival is very pleased to announce the appointment of Tamara Kater as its new Executive Director. Board chair Terry Sargeant made the announcement today, following a board decision based on an extensive international search.
As Executive Director, Ms. Kater will be responsible for day-to-day management of the organization, ensuring that operations are aligned with the Festival’s vision, mission and mandate. She will also be involved in establishing and implementing strategic goals and for leading a major resource development program.
She will work closely with Artistic Director Chris Frayer, as well as with the staff and volunteers to ensure that the Winnipeg Folk Festival continues to be the number one festival in the country.
Ms. Kater brings fifteen years experience as a cultural manager to the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Most recently she has been Executive Director of the Ottawa Folk Festival where, in less than two years, she oversaw significant positive change in the governance and management of the organization. She has led the Ottawa Folk Festival in a revenue diversification strategy, which increased earned revenues by 25%. Sponsorships and grants increased by 60%.
“We are extremely pleased to be welcoming Tamara to the Winnipeg Folk Festival,” said Sargeant. “She brings a reputation as a ‘brilliant, young folk festival manager’ as well as having an excellent track record in managing arts organizations. She has a life-long passion for folk music and a vitality that will serve us well as the Festival moves toward our goal to be the Folk Music Capital of Canada.”
“I am very honoured and excited to have been selected as the successful candidate,” said Ms. Kater. “I am thrilled to be joining this venerable organization which has long been regarded as the best festival in Canada. I look forward to many more years of outstanding music and community spirit.”
Ms. Kater will be relocating to Winnipeg in the very near future. She will commence her new position on December 1, 2008.
Good.
I was worried that the goal would be better, more diverse music but I can see the focus is now ‘revenue diversification’ and ’sponsorship’.
/end sarcasm
Deleting my comments does not solve the fundamental issue.
Why is the folk fest no longer about the music but instead the focus is on ‘revenue diversification’ and sponsorship?
I totally agree with “Music Lover”. I am very skeptical. I hope the festival does not become so bottomline-oriented that the music suffers, as it has in the past three or four years.
Touting a new CEO as being “revenue diversified” and “Sponsor ship” - oriented gives us cause to worry. Of course sponsorship is critical to a not-for-profit, but is must not be a sell-out.
Terry (Board Chair), what are you thinking? It’s not about the budget (although we realize you have to be able to sustain yourselves) it’s after all, my God! - about the music!
If you want to become the best folk festival in Canada (and we were once) you have to build on the music, not the money!!
how about we give Tamara a chance. I’ve been going to the WFF for a long time and have always been very happy with the music and entertainment… especially the last few years. I think in some respects, the music will follow the money. After all, the big names everyone wants at the festival don’t come cheap and I’ve heard past performers say that this is the best run festival they’ve played at. With an event of this scale, you must have good fiscal planning and forward thinking board members/staff to survive.
I have only been attending the Wpg Festival for the last 8 years and I have found a big change in the music.
The first few years it was difficult to decide where to go becasue there were so many fantastic acts; however, in the last 2 or 3 years the quality has decreased with only two or three acts that really made an impression. I hope Tamara will find that the quality of performers will be high on her priority. We need REALLY good children’s performers.
Good Luck Tamara we are looking forward to see what you can do for us.
I applaud this appointment. The folk fest is on a positive trajectory by any measure: it’s a sustainable festival that offers increasingly diverse programming and enjoys a wide reputation for excellence. The fact the board was able to attract an individual with a track record like Ms. Kater’s will only serve to benefit both the organization and those such as myself who so enjoy the festival each year. I think concerns over further corporatization of the event are certainly valid, and I think it’s incumbent on festival administrators to put a freeze on commercial encroachment to ensure it never compromises the independent spirit that gives the festival its character. But it’s my belief entirely that those who invest their time year-round to make this the great event it is are solely committed to making this fine event even better. Congratulations to Ms. Kater. She joins an excellent organization that I trust will be stronger still with her leadership.
It never ceases to amaze me how the old folksters in these parts always complain that things ain’t how they used to be musically or that things are too money-focussed. Regarding the latter, guess what, if the cash isn’t coming in, the music will suffer. It is perfectly appropriate for the festival to work on ways to increase revenue so that it can continue to bring in international talent. Quit resenting the way the reality of our world - without cash, things don’t happen. Get over it.
And, as far as saying the music suffers, gimme a break! Just because it’s not your classic singer-songwriter strumming on an acoustic guitar all day and all night doesn’t mean the music has gone to the dogs. People have their differing tastes and the folk festival is doing an outstanding job at accomodating those different tastes while trying to attract new visitors and stay relevant. For people who pride themselves on being progressive in their world view, some of you folkies sound awfully crochety when it comes to new and different styles being played. I never hear any gratitude out of the self-appointed guardians of folk - just bitching that it’s not exactly how they’d like it. Too bad!
-itsallgood- raises a good point, without the cash flow, we can’t attract the bigger names. The more the festival can increase its revenue, the better acts they can sign, hopefully prompting more people to buy up tix, etc etc. I would argue that that process is already in motion, with the past several years setting attendance records (with the exception of the weather-plagued 2008 fest). The younger generations are starting to catch the Folk Fever, and it’s spreading :)
I have attended the festival for 5 years, and my one and only complaint is the increase in visible sponsorship, specifically Volkswagon. They were handing out disposable water bottles and pamphlets, and there was a special section in the parking lot for VWs only. I think if sponsors want to have a presence at the festival, it should be in keeping with the festival’s goals. Hand out re-usable mugs, let people park where they please and it you have information to convey to the public, SING IT instead of handing out a pamphlet that will only end up on the ground.
That said, I’m glad we got an Exec Director who did so well for the Ottawa FF, and I’m sure she’ll do us all proud. Only 237 days left people!
The Wpg FF certainly has some issues, namely the monster crowds (good for revenue, bad for actual music watching) that threaten to alienate the core groups that have made this a success. If things get too commerical, it is just another sunfest or the like, and those tend to implode. The actual money raised from these sell-out events like water bottles and car placements seems small in the grand picture. Is it worth it?
I hope for the best as we have attended numerous years and I do love it. Trend seems to be on the down unfortunately.
I’m happy for Tamara, and I hope she does a good job. She can only do it with support from local and national organizations, and dare I say it, sponsorship from private corporations.
I’m disappointed in some of the responses here. To suggest that a Folk Festival relies solely on good music is pure idealism and reflects a lack of experience in what it takes to run a large-scale festival of any kind. And to say that the music “has been suffering” in the last few years is an insult to many of the wonderful artists who have been playing the WFF (not to mention the young performers!). I suggest a dose of realism, polite letters to the WFF voicing your concerns, and a helping hand for the new executive director.