After several months of exploring its options, the Cityfolk Board of Trustees this week voted unanimously to dissolve the organization and transfer its assets to the University of Dayton. The transfer, expected to take place this month, will be the final step as Cityfolk closes its doors permanently.According to Cityfolk president, Matt Dunn, the University of Dayton Arts Series has been a long-time partner with Cityfolk’s World Rhythm Series and a variety of residencies. In addition, the University’s ArtStreet and Fitz Center were partners in Cityfolk’s Culture Builds Community Program. As the sole recipient of Cityfolk funds held at The Dayton Foundation, the University of Dayton will build on the already existing partnership and be able to expand its programming to be more inclusive of jazz, a specific requirement of the funding.
Said Dunn, “The synergy between the Arts Series, ArtStreet, and the Fitz Center demonstrated to our board that the University of Dayton will be committed to opportunities that not only serve UD students, but the wider community as well.” Rather than being partners, Cityfolk will cease to exist as the University carries on Cityfolk’s legacy as a presenter. Several board members will serve on an advisory committee established by the University to oversee programming associated with the funding.
The partnership will help continue Cityfolk’s tradition of visiting artists who bridge performance and education, build relationships and create great music with students and musicians in the Miami Valley, said Paul Benson, dean of the University of Dayton’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“We welcome the chance to expand the university’s efforts to promote and present the arts to people throughout our community,” Benson said. “We are especially pleased to be able to continue the legacy of Cityfolk’s jazz programming, which occupies such an important place in America’s cultural heritage and in Dayton’s own artistic traditions.” For more on the University of Dayton’s vision for jazz programming, visithttp://bit.ly/1kmE7Fk.
The Cityfolk Board also decided to donate Cityfolk’s records and files – dating back to the origins of the organization – to the Special Collections and Archives of Wright State University where they will be cataloged and preserved.
“Cityfolk has a rich history and was an integral thread in the fabric of Dayton’s arts and cultural life,” Dunn said, “Preserving its history and making files available to be studied would inspire anyone interested wanting to know about traditional and folk music and its place in shaping our cultural heritage.” Among the files are recordings by artists presented by Cityfolk, stories from the Dayton Stories project, and files on every band and artist presented by Cityfolk.
The Cityfolk organization, which presented the Cityfolk Festival each summer, a concert season, folk dances, and educational programs announced in July it was suspending its operations for financial reasons. “Our decision was a difficult one, but the right one. Finding a successor to carry on our legacy was the appropriate thing to do,” said Dunn.
For more information about the University of Dayton Arts Series go to:http://www.udayton.edu/artssciences/artsseries/.
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