Two regional chapters of Folk Alliance International have slated a first-of-its-kind inter-regional one-day mini-conference. The Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) and Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA) will hold the event at Unity of Charlottesville in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday, September 6, 2014.

Designed especially to give artists, presenters, DJs, agents and others engaged in the business of folk music a small taste of what takes place during our respective annual four-day conferences, the day will feature workshops, panel discussions, networking, and juried artist showcases.

Ten artists/acts will be selected by a panel of judges (comprised of presenters and a folk DJ) to each perform 15-minute slots in the late afternoon through the early evening. The showcase application deadline is May 31, while notification of those selected to showcase their talents will be made by the end of June. Only the first 75 showcase applicants will be considered.

Prior to the showcases, conference attendees will have an opportunity to choose from among an array of morning and afternoon workshop sessions and panel discussions, and to enjoy networking over lunch, which will be provided as part of the registration fee. Registration is $40 through August 3, after which it will rise to $50. The juried showcases also will be open to the public for a nominal fee.

Registration forms and online showcase applications are posted in the
Regional One-Day Conferences menu that appears on the left side of the NERFA website (www.nerfa.org). More details on the event will be posted there, on the SERFA website (www.serfa.org), and on both FAI regions’ respective Facebook pages as they become available.

NERFA and SERFA are part of the larger Folk Alliance International (www.folk.org), an association that aims to foster and promote multicultural, traditional and contemporary folk music, while strengthening and advancing organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development.

Editor’s Note: As a NERFA board member who also regularly attends the annual SERFA Conferences in North Carolina, I suggested a joint one-day conference and am actively engaged in helping to plan the event.