1974 Festival program book cover

The first Winnipeg Folk Festival was held in 1974 in Birds Hill Park. It had been planned and primarily funded through a municipal project fund as a one-time celebration to mark Winnipeg’s 100th anniversary. Featuring 50 acts on four stages, this inaugural festival was free and attracted an estimated audience of 22,000 over the three-day weekend. Since then, the festival has grown considerably in size and reputation, but that first event laid down important roots in Birds Hill Park and in the community.

Cathy Fink at the 1985 Festival. Photo: David Landy.

The founder of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mitch Podolak, has had an enormous impact on the shape and direction of the folk music community in Canada. From 1974 to 1986, Mitch developed the Winnipeg Folk Festival both artistically and organizationally. His creation engaged the best of the local, national, and international folk music communities the media, and a strong, active volunteer culture. This original structure has been the Festival’s greatest strength through difficult years, resulting in today’s artistic and financial success.

Mitch Podolak has also helped develop the strong folk music festivals in Edmonton, Calgary Vancouver, and many smaller centres. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is remarkable on its own; the collective strength of Western Canada’s folk music festivals is a truly invaluable asset for Canadian folk music, and live music in general, fostering committed audiences and supporting emerging performers who go on to make their own significant contributions to Canadian culture.

After Mitch Podolak’s departure from the Festival, Rosalie Goldstein was director until 1991. During this time, the festival’s musical scope broadened to include groups and styles pushing the boundaries of what was considered folk music. Pierre Guerin joined as artistic director in 1992, developing the festival’s world music programming and renewing its commitment to presenting excellent but relatively unknown performers.

1999 Festival Main Stage. Photo Ian McCausland.

Starting in 1999, an executive director took on a leading strategic and operational role, with a mandate to stabilize operations and move the organization to a year-round role within the community. Trudy Schroeder was hired as the executive director, and oversaw the organizations operations through ten festivals, working with artistic directors Pierre Guerin, Rick Fenton and Chris Frayer. In December 2008, Tamara Kater assumed the role of executive director for the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Since 1999, the Winnipeg Folk Festival has seen significant growth. Extended artistic programs now include concerts throughout the year, youth training programs, a year-round venue, outreach programs, and a larger, better resourced festival. Internal staff resources have grown each staff position has taken on a significant leadership role.

At the 2007 Festival. Photo Robert Tinker.

Recently, the Folk Festival’s annual operating budget was more than $3.5M and attendance at the summer event exceeded 62,000, including performers, volunteers and guests. The organization had more than 2,200 active volunteers, and had an active role in Winnipeg’s music life. The Folk Festival has evolved from a one-weekend event to a community asset with folk music at its heart, and it presents a range of programs and initiatives that span the calendar year.