Update June 2012
Brisbane Folk History Project at the
National Folk Festival

The Brisbane Folk History Project applied to the 2012 National Folk Festival, and was invited to host a stall in the Conference Centre outside the Trocadero venue. A project team consisting of Mary Brettell, Alison MacKenzie, Mark Anderson and Andrea Baldwin organised a stall to promote the project, and show off some of the great material that has been collected so far. Several of our local 'Queensland year' attendees also helped out with the stall – thank you, you know who you are!

Response to the stall was very positive. The team met some wonderful and supportive people who offered all sorts of assistance. As just one example, festival attendees identified many of the "mystery" folk in Mary's photos, which date back to the 1960s.

You will soon be able to see some photos of the stall and the festival here ...

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FABULOUS FUND RAISER FOR FOLK

25 MARCH 2012

The concert held
Sunday afternoon concert
25th March

at the Danish Club,
36 Austin Street,
Newstead.

was a wonderful success and the Brisbane Folk History Project committe would like to sincerely thank the members of the bands who so generously gave their time and talents and the folk who cam along to enjoy the entertainment and make the day a great success.

Participating Groups

Photos of the event may be viewed here
www.maryb-photos.com/bfhp

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Update February 2012
Queensland State Library Interest

The Brisbane Folk History Project has been contacted by the Queensland Music Coordinator in the State Library, Laura Dingle.

The collection Laura is working with is the John Oxley Library specializing exclusively in Queensland materials.

The reason for this current focus is to fill retrospective gaps in the State Library’s Queensland music collection, and to create networks and structures which will ensure that they collect as comprehensively as possible from this point on. The ultimate aim is to create a collection which authentically reflects the cultural memory of all Queenslanders as it relates to music.

This means that they house the material in ideal conditions for its preservation into the future and make it accessible for use by current and future musicians and researchers.

Laura and her team are interested in housing the material collected and produced by the Brisbane Folk History Project in the State Library. The library frequently exhibits material from the rich John Oxley collections. Also, public programs, usually involving performances, are often organized to bring these materials before the mainstream public.

Folk music in particular carries so much historical content that helps to define the essence of being a Queenslander. Laura states that is exactly what they are aiming to collect for future generations.

Andrea Baldwin, Mark Smith and Mary Brettell met with Laura on 22 January 2012 and negotiations for the hand-over will continue.

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UPDATE 2011

The committee are delighted to announce that the Brisbane City Council, funds through their Program Grant program, have awarded funds to further assist the Brisbane Folk History Project in meeting its aims. Funds will be used to employ a part-time project coordinator as well as to cover the costs of transcribing previously collected interview recordings.