Bold statement: the NL Folk Arts Society is at a crossroads after all of its remaining board members quit, leaving both the society and the annual NL Folk Festival hanging in limbo.
A committee member who represents the society’s members, Jean Hewson, indicates that a meeting is scheduled for mid-March to chart a way forward. The plan centers on potentially appointing an interim board to bridge the gap before an annual general meeting and a proper election.
“So, we would elect an interim board that will come in, prepare things like financial reports, engage with funders, and explore whether some funding can be reactivated, laying the groundwork for the society’s next steps,” she explained.
But here’s where it gets controversial: critics may question whether an interim board can truly stabilize the organization without a clear long-term plan, and whether funding partners will respond to a short-term leadership shift. And this is the part most people miss—how the interim team aligns with the community’s artistic goals and preserves the festival’s integrity in the transition.
As discussions move forward, the questions that matter are what safeguards will be put in place to ensure continuity, how quickly financial transparency will resume, and who ultimately guides the society through this period of change. Do you think appointing an interim board is enough to restore confidence, or should there be additional governance reforms? Share your thoughts in the comments.
