Culture Fund: Orkney Folk Festival 2023

We are delighted to report that the 40^th Anniversary Festival went very well indeed and even exceeded our expectations in terms of ticket sales recording a new record high  of  8,074 (7,313 – 2022)   and in the process  also generating another  high with   ticket sales income. In addition  there was a take up of  584 online subscribers  from which we estimate  added  2,000 or so extra viewers.

The Festival went almost exactly as we had set out to achieve   with  over 40 organised  events plus  workshops and pub sessions.  As an addition, we were  also able to include two performances of the  touring “Thunderstruck “  production  on the life of Gordon Duncan within the festival programme. 

The demand for tickets  has grown year on year to the extent that  the last fifteen years has seen a doubling of tickets sold.  Whether this can be maintained is open to question  which only time will tell but there is no argument  that we now have a very  sustainable base to work from. This certainly augurs well for the future feasibility  of the Festival as long as we continue to offer the same high quality artists as we have engaged in past years and at the same time not lose sight of maintaining the friendly and   intimate atmosphere of the Festival that is especially appreciated by the visiting audience.

There were many sell out events with the  high point of the whole week-end being the collaboration of Capercaille playing alongside a schools  orchestra supported by members of the Orkney Camerata and the Kirkwall Town Band  under the  leadership of Greg Lawson, performing in front of a sell-out audience of 1,028 at the Pickaquoy Centre. A very special night and a unique way of celebrating the 40^th Anniversary. Indeed overall the Festival ran very smoothly and  Craig Corse, the new Festival Producer and his management team should be extremely proud of what they achieved.

It has to be said though that  in organising  what was in effect the biggest festival we have  ever staged we did encounter various challenges around the time availability of the unpaid volunteers. This was  especially noticeable in the setting up of a completely new paperless ticketing management system.  Despite working almost seamlessly over the week-end, what this and other instances  highlighted   was the amount of time the  unpaid volunteers had to commit to ensuring the success of the festival and is something the Board  will be far more  aware of going forward.

In terms of further developing the festival, our relationship with Radio Orkney broadcasting special events was further cemented with our “Orkney Friends” patrons having the exclusive rights to free bookable tickets. The number of workshops was increased including one by Claire Hastings for babes and toddlers! These also included Cello, Cape Breton Fiddle, Orkney Fiddle, Swing Guitar and of course our very popular Folk Festival Choir – all very well attended. For the first time too we held a Song writers Circle  hosted by Kris Drever, Katherine Priddy, Mo Kennedy and Beth Malcolm: not a sell-out but attracting an audience of over 100.

While not included in the actual programme, we did this year massively increase the number of school visits with every mainland  primary school being visited by artists  as our way of taking the music out to the wider community – something much appreciated by all the schools and hopefully helping to inspire these young people. And not forgetting the Family Folkie stomp / ceilidh for the young folk on the Saturday afternoon.

These initiatives are all viewed as ways of developing and nurturing the future of the Festival as well as making  it as inclusive as we can to all Orkney residents whether young or old.

As part of this, the support given by Orkney Islands Council has always been seen by us an integral part of that  development, not only for the financial support it provides enabling us to more fully support the artists we engage  but also key in  helping us be  worthy of inclusion in the wider artistic and cultural  landscape within Scotland and further afield.