A Statement from the FAI Board of Directors

February 2, 2026

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FAI 2024

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On behalf of the Board of Directors of Folk Alliance International, we want to acknowledge the ongoing conversation within our community about access, affordability, and the future of artist-centered spaces at our conference. This dialogue was recently catalyzed by Carsie Blanton’s speech during our awards show, her subsequent social media post, and her call to action urging Folk Alliance International to make the conference free for artists. We are deeply grateful to the artists, presenters, and advocates who continue to engage thoughtfully and passionately on these issues and to push us to examine how our systems can better serve the people at the heart of this work.

Folk Alliance International exists at the intersection of community and commerce, culture and industry, tradition and innovation. Our conference was created in 1989 to bring together artists, presenters, agents, managers, and cultural workers into one shared space, building relationships that sustain creative livelihoods over time. That balance has always been complex, and in today’s economic landscape, it is increasingly strained for many across the music ecosystem.

We take seriously our responsibility to listen, to reflect, and to act with care. At the same time, as a nonprofit organization, the Board carries a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that any changes we pursue are thoughtful, mission-aligned, and financially sustainable. This responsibility requires us to consider not only the needs of artists, but also the broader ecosystem that makes meaningful artistic exchange and opportunity possible. Access and affordability are not abstract values for us; they are practical challenges that require long-term strategy, shared investment, and careful stewardship.

With that responsibility in mind, Folk Alliance International has taken, and continues to take, concrete steps to reduce barriers to participation and support artists, including:
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Launching an Artist Scholarship Pilot Program (2026):
Made possible by a $50,000 anonymous gift, this first-of-its-kind program supported 28 bands (77 artists total) and distributed more than $36,000 in direct cash support to help offset conference-related expenses, including registration and travel, with the remaining funds going towards the cost of registration. The pilot was open to Official Showcase artists, with recipients selected at random.
Program Expansion - Artist Scholarships and Presenter Scholarship Pilot Program (2027):
Building on what we’ve learned from the pilot, we have secured an additional $75,000 for the 2027 conference and plan to launch a small Presenter Scholarship Pilot Program, reflecting our belief that a healthy, effective conference requires balanced participation from both artists and presenters. $50,000 will be spent towards an artist scholarship, $20,000 on the presenters pilot program, and $5,000 on hiring a person to manage the programs.
Continuing First-Timer registration scholarships:
For more than a decade, Folk Alliance International has offered first-timer scholarships, typically supporting more than 100 artists each year, as part of our ongoing efforts to increase access to the conference. For the 2026 conference, 207 artists received a first-timer's scholarship with the value of $84,772. Another 40 first-timer scholarships were given to industry professionals with a value of $24,800.
Preserving Volunteer Pathways to participation:
We continue to offer volunteer opportunities that allow artists and community members to engage through service, an important and meaningful point of entry into the Folk Alliance community that we remain committed to maintaining.‍
Advancing Long-Term Structural Solutions:
‍At our Annual General Meeting on January 23rd, we shared updates on our efforts to establish an Artist and Presenter Endowment, which we view as a critical long-term mechanism for fundamentally improving access and affordability. Building this endowment is a multi-year effort requiring sustained fundraising and collective investment, but we believe it is essential to creating lasting change rather than short-term fixes. We invite those who are able to support this work to contribute to the Artist and Presenter Endowment, helping us build a sustainable foundation for long-term access and affordability.
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We also want to be clear that the challenges raised in this moment are not unique to Folk Alliance International. Artists, presenters, agents, independent workers, and cultural organizers across the music industry are navigating rising costs, unstable income, and facing significant financial and structural challenges. These realities demand collective thinking and long-term solutions beyond Folk Alliance International and for the music industry at large; this extends beyond our annual conference.

We invite continued dialogue with our community about how Folk Alliance International can move toward greater access and equity in ways that are community-informed, financially responsible, and aligned with our shared values. We recognize that this work moves at the speed of trust, and that meaningful progress requires transparency, patience, and collaboration.

We remain committed to listening, learning, and working alongside our community as we navigate this moment together, and we welcome feedback, ideas, and partnership from our community, and encourage you to reach out to our staff at fai@folk.org to continue this conversation.