2018 ANNUAL REPORTTHE FOLK FESTIVAL SOCIETY OF CALGARY
WHO WE ARE
OUR PILLARS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STAFF
The Folk Festival Society of Calgary is a year-round, charitable arts organization that promotes community engagement and city building through the presentation of live musical programming spanning genres from local, national and international artists. The FFSC has grown from its primary event, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, a four-day summer festival (est. 1980) to include: ownership and operation of Festival Hall, a 200-seat performance venue in Inglewood; producing a year-round concert series; and Block Heater, a multi-venue winter music festival. The Society is run by thirteen staff, twelve board members and is powered by 1,850 volunteers.
Chantal Vitalis Artistic Associate, Chelsea Boutilier Box Office Coordinator, Elyse Bouvier Marketing Coordinator, Emily McCormick Volunteer Resources Manager, Ingrid Mosker Development Associate,John Hiebert Production Manager, Jordan Schroter Festival Hall Rentals Manager, Katie Neelin Accountant, Kerry Clarke Artistic Director, Matt Olah Marketing Director, Peter Kaminski Site Operations Manager, Sara Leishman Executive Director, Stephanie Mok Development Manager
1. Share our passion for music
2. Create exceptional experiences
3. Maintain a vibrant and sustainable organization
4. Foster community spirit
Board members, left to right: John Smiley, Rob Pritchard, Shayne McBride, Jennifer Allford, Lisa Hari, Brian Pincott, Karin King,
Jaci Lyndon, David Frid, Sheldon Lachambre. In memoriam: Joseph Schuck. Photo by Peter Moller.
Cover images from left to right: A Tribe Called Red at Calgary Folk Music Festival 2018, photo by Mike Tan; Guitar Boot Camp 2018
with Kevin Breit at National Music Centre, photo by Lucia Juliao; Carmelo Torres at Calgary Folk Music Festival 2018, photo by Joe
Miles; audience at Calgary Folk Music Festival 2018, photo by Mike Tan; nêhiyawak at Block Heater 2018, photo by David Kenney.
FOLLOW US FOR UPDATES:WWW.CALGARYFOLKFEST.COM
@CALGARYFOLKFEST
The Folk Festival Society of Calgary1215 10 Avenue SE Calgary, Alberta T2G 0W6
403.233.0904
Registered Charity #127909141 RR0001
YEAR IN REVIEWThe Folk Festival Society of Calgary’s past year was filled with growth and success. Business as usual was approached with fresh sets of eyes and continued commitment to sustainable development in everything that we do. Artistic programming continued to be relevant and diverse, marketing efforts resulted in strong ticket sales and increased community engagement, and our fundraising efforts were fortified with our first ever presenting sponsorship, a collaborative partnership with ATB. All of this was done with the bedrock support of our finance, production, site operations and volunteer departments honing their respective practices and continuing to set a high bar in our industry. While we forwarded our own presenting mandate, Festival Hall remained in demand and had a record number of community and private rentals. Our spring and fall concert series averaged 85% sold, Block Heater sold out before our doors opened and the event at the root of it all - the Calgary Folk Music Festival - set a ticket revenue record of just over $1.5 million. The financial benefits of these successes are a wonderful thing, but what they really demonstrate is a strong connection with our community.
Over 39 years we have grown and evolved into a leader in the Calgary arts community and nationally among our peers. Our sustainability as an organization has strengthened partnerships with organisations such as the National Music Centre, historically our partners for Folk Boot Camp and now Block Heater’s anchor venue. Our position has also opened up incredible opportunities for collaborations with fellow Cornerstones such as the CPO as well as local presenters and upstart community initiatives like Major Minor Music Project.
As we enter our fourth decade, we strive to keep the organization creative and relevant, while holding on to the traditions that set us apart. We commit to sharing our passion for music and doing so through exceptional experiences year round. We couldn’t do this without the support of a strong board and their acute focus on sustainability; our amazing corps of volunteers who come from all walks of life; and our sponsors, donors and funders who place such great value in this community.
The Deep Dark Woods play Calgary Folk Music Festival in 2018. Photo by Melanie Boisvert.
CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL
PROGRAMMINGSeventy-one artists from thirteen countries, seven Canadian provinces and eight Indigenous nations performed on seven stages July 26–29, 2018. Marquee artists included The Milk Carton Kids, Passenger, Alvvays, Joe Jackson, Rhye, Stars, Lee Ann Womack, Reuben and the Dark, Shovels & Rope, Neko Case, and Bahamas. The excellence and depth of Indigenous cultural expressions was exemplified as Canadian and Australian artists Archie Roach, The Mission Songs Project, Jeremy Dutcher, Quantum Tangle, and Michelle Thrush shared their art and celebrated links between nations, countries, genres and perspectives.
As always, artists shared enticing stories and songs at curated sessions, creating magic for the artists and audience. Complementing these performances were the Talk Tent, which provided a fun, shaded tent alternative as multicultural comedy, beatboxing and panels animated this cool space and two articles in the program book that highlighted Latin American music and the African diaspora. Family programming was elevated from sing-a-longs to cultural adventures: hip hop fusion, the human form through cross-cultural rhythms and an Aboriginal healing clown.
A Tribe Called Red enhanced the annual Boot Camp educational program as they mentored keen Indigenous youth songwriters and DJs plus gave an intimate open-to-the public talk.
Top to bottom: Quantum Tangle, photo by Joe Miles; backstage volunteers, photo by Ron Sparrow.
VOLUNTEERS1,766 TOTAL VOLUNTEERS
TOTAL HOURS: 48,950
AREA MANAGER HOURS: 8,400
CREW COORDINATOR HOURS: 10,500
FRONTLINE VOLUNTEER HOURS: 30,500
28 AREA MANAGERS, 11 AREAS
201 CREW COORDINATORS, 76 CREWS
1,537 FRONTLINE VOLUNTEERS9,124 MEALS SERVED TO HUNGRY VOLUNTEERS Nearly every volunteer that I ran into, or talked to, was so friendly and I could find at
least one thing in common. The passion of so many of these volunteers was amazing. Count me in for next year! — Backstage Production Security volunteer
CONCERTS & EVENTS
PROGRAMMING
VOLUNTEERS
This team has been at capacity over the last 4 years, so we have not been accepting new candidates. We have been letting the program shrink by attrition.
Top to bottom: The East Pointers at Festival Hall, photo by Chelsea Lees; Festival Hall volunteers, photo by Lisa Amos.
“I feel very valued by the FH staff because you are very genuine in recognizing our efforts and giving thanks for our help. You really make me feel like part of a team versus just another volunteer.”
Throughout our thirty-nine years of existence, our festivals, concerts and events respected both history and new trends and made links between artists, genres, cultures and generations.
The Society presented many sold out shows at our own Festival Hall and other venues—from East Coast traditional virtuosos The East Pointers to theatrical comedians The Arrogant Worms, the country sounds of Lindi Ortega and Mariel Buckley to indie-darlings Great Lake Swimmers, Blitzen Trapper, the soulful Birds of Chicago and more. We celebrated the Calgary-bred artists Reuben and the Dark’s success at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, along with fellow Alberta Arts & Crafts label mates nêhiwayak, following their debut Calgary performance at the 2017 CFMF. We continued to mark Black History/Futures Month through a wonderful partnership with innovative local black collective Soul in the City to co-present a special themed multi-disciplinary extravaganza featuring Lynn Olagundoye. The Society cemented its role as this city’s go-to music organization by collaborating with many partners, including Tourism Calgary, Tooth Blackner, One Big Jam and Dave Kelly Live.
46 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS
WORK AT 2–4 SHOWS
A SEASON
PROGRAMMINGProgramming evolved for the third annual festival at the majestic Studio Bell and the historic King Eddy, creating a festival-in-a-box that mirrored the summer festival...with a few more permanent physical structures. 26 artists, including Justin Townes Earle, Iris Dement, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Ndidi Onukwulu, Delhi 2 Dublin and Dan Bern shook the Skybridge and serenaded Performance Hall audiences.
The debut screening of the Canadian independent film Brown Girl Begins along with live music by Yolanda Sargeant, hosted by the film’s star Shakura S’Aida, was featured at Festival Hall, intentionally dovetailing with Black Futures Month.
VOLUNTEERS
VOLU
NTE
ERS
2016 2017 2018 2019
52 47
60
82
1,002 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS
“Once again I am amazed by the passion and commitment of all who make these events happen. Congratulations and let’s keep live music a strong part of our city experience!!!”
BLOCK HEATER
Top to bottom: Dan Bern at Studio Bell, photo by Ron Sparrow; volunteers at King Eddy, photo by David Kenney.
RENTAL BREAKDOWN
Revenue: $4,857,358 Expense: $4,542,689
The Small Glories at Festival Hall, photo by Ron Sparrow.
FINANCIALS AT-A-GLANCEOur positive financial position throughout 2018 was a result of strong ticket sales for all activities, festival beer garden sales, adjustments to vendor fees, additional programming grants and bolstered fundraising income through the ATB partnership. We also kept an eye on expenses and trimmed wherever we could. We were able to pay down the mortgage of Festival Hall by an extra $250k, and the Society’s surplus of $218,248 funded some repairs and maintenance and renovated the office space in our new warehouse to create a meeting space for volunteers, thereby freeing up Festival Hall for rentals. We were also able to cash plan, ensuring a healthy emergency fund with money set aside for future capital replacement.
FESTIVAL HALLUsage of Festival Hall continues to increase year over year. There’s a roster of repeat renters includes Camp Hoo-Ha!, The City of Calgary, Calgary Fringe, EMMEDIA, New Works Calgary, Calgary Men’s Chorus and Sonnabelles. Wedding and corporate rentals are on the rise, however the bulk of our rental business is attributed to community groups and performances.
Rentals have increased by 21% since 2016
PERFORMANCE & NON-PROFIT 83% WEDDINGS & CORPORATE 17%
SURPLUS OF $218,248
SUMMER FESTIVAL
SUMMER FESTIVAL
FUNDRAISING
PROGRAMMING
ADMIN
FESTIVAL HALL / EXTERNAL EVENTS FESTIVAL HALL / EXTERNAL EVENTS
OTHER
BLOCK HEATER
BLOCK HEATERFUNDRAISING
GRANTS
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
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