A new project to celebrate cultural diversity and highlight the plight of refugees has been launched by Shrewsbury Folk Festival. Organisers of the annual four-day event, which takes place from 25 to 28 August at the West Mid Showground, have secured a £95,000 investment from Arts Council England for the 18-month Room for All project. The initiative will include a music commission featuring refugee musicians and a programme of education and outreach work in the county.
A new addition to the festival is Launchpad, a pop-up venue designed to showcase the talents of young musicians. The festival is appealing for solo performers and groups, aged 16 to 26 who live in Shropshire, Mid Wales or the West Midlands to pitch for one of the five places available.
To apply, send a short biography, links to performances (Soundcloud, YouTube etc) and your contact details to jo@shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk before May 31. Only the selected performers will be contacted.
