KEY OBJECTIVES

ACTIVITIES

1. To expand The Milkmaid into a non-profit community organisation promoting music, dance and song from Suffolk, East Anglia, The British Isles, Europe and the rest of the world.
The Milkmaid in its present form is Suffolk’s premier folk club; it holds two concerts a month featuring top professional artists from the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada and USA.

A Social Enterprise Community Interest Company has been set up and registered with Companies House.
Funding agencies contacted with assistance from Suffolk County Community Development, Suffolk Acre and Folk Arts England.
A Community Bank Account being set up with Barclay’s Bank Plc.
Local Business to be contacted for sponsorship.

2. To acquire a suitable leasehold property that will cater for the activities of a Folk Arts Centre in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

 Dialogue taking place between Suffolk County Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and property agents.

3. To promote concerts featuring International and National folk music performers including music from Africa, Asia, America, Australasia and Europe. To use local performers as support acts giving them a chance to perform in front of knowledgeable audiences in a structured concert setting.

The folk club is promoting International World Class Performers twice a month and using local performers as support acts. 
Have participated in The Bury St Edmunds Festival of Culture 29th May 2007. 
Organising a musical fun day involving local people from all backgrounds and abilities on The Mildenhall Estate Village Green in Bury St Edmunds for 2008.

4. To bring together Ethnic Minorities and other communities through the power of folk music and folk dance. To break down barriers regarding other Nationals in the UK through Folk music and dance.

Contact made with the Polish community and discussions under way with ‘Karibu’ a Black women’s action group based in Ipswich.  
Database of 300 folk organisations throughout Europe being set up, contact made with Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Lithuanian and Swedish folk organizations. 
Two Regional MEP’s offering advice.

5. To participate with people with various disabilities allowing them access to the folk arts.

Contact made with Suffolk Social Services, West Suffolk Headway, Bury Volunteer Service, West Suffolk Mind.
Have invited a musical group from West Suffolk Mind to take part in a concert and a musical fun day.