The South Coast Folk Society was recently awarded a Cultural Development Grant of $11,349 by the Oregon Cultural Trust. This Creativity grant will be used to directly develop and support a permanent folk orchestra on the southern Oregon coast to enrich cultural life and bring new resources to local communities. “The uniqueness of the Cultural Trust in the national landscape is a testament to Oregonians’ dedication to supporting culture,” said Carole Morse, chair of the Cultural Trust Board. “More than 10,000 families, individuals and businesses invest in the Trust every year to ensure future generations have access to active and culturally vibrant communities.” The South Coast Folk Society is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that preserves and teaches folk traditions, offering contra and folk dancing, sing-alongs, concerts, workshops and the South Coast Celtic Festival. The organization serves dancers, musicians, singers and devoted folk music fans from Gold Beach to Florence and from North Bend to Myrtle Point and beyond. Members come from all walks of life. From students to retired individuals, from novice to professional musicians, all are welcomed and encouraged to attend the group’s public events. The Cultural Trust grant will directly fund the “Mentoring South Coast Musicians” project developed by the South Coast Folk Society, which will run from September 2016 through July 2017. Musician Sue Songer, editor of The Portland Collection http://www.theportlandcollection.com, a highly acclaimed source for contra music worldwide, and Portland fiddler Betsy Branch, as music arranger, will train 25 local musicians for six months to perform their newest contra dance repertoire, at a gala dance in June 2017, ensuring the orchestra’s sustainability. This project will ensure local talent is nurtured, promote growth for musicians, as well as provide more outreach within the community. It will help further root traditional music and dance opportunities for current and future generations in the area.
