Texas Folk Music Foundation
Purpose, Mission & Vision

The Texas Folk Music Foundation's purpose is to educate the public about the benefits and characteristics of folk music.

Our VISION is of a community where songwriters and their craft are treasured and supported and folk music is valued and enjoyed by people of all ages and circumstances.

Our MISSION is to promote public appreciation and support for songwriters, the songwriting craft, and the gift folk music offers to the world.

Educational and Program Goals and Objectives

The Foundation accomplishes its mission and reaches toward its vision by promoting folk music in its many and varied forms, and by actively supporting songwriting, songwriters and folk music education in many ways:

1) Provide folk music education for the musician and non-musician community through workshops, seminars, and other educational events.

-   Many Foundation Programs are held during the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Wine & Music Festival, including:  

Campus Songwriters Competitions,
Grassy Hill-Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters
Kerrville Songwriters' School
Harmonica Workshop
House Concert Seminar
Professional Development Program for Teachers
Various topical seminars such as Music Law and Music Business.  

-    In addition, we develop and fund new educational programs for our sponsored Festivals in conjunction with each Festival Producer.

-    Over time, we will also develop new seminars and workshops which will help songwriters hone their musicianship, songwriting, music skills and techniques; and instruct them in aspects of music business such as production, promotion and law.

2) Provide support and create a friendly, sustainable environment for songwriters and musicians to allow them to focus on their craft.

-    Continue and expand the support of New Folk Finalists and Winners during the Kerrville Folk Festival by providing assistance during their visit to the festival for the competition and by arranging high value performance opportunities for New Folk Winners such as at the Rice Festival each November.

-    Continue and expand efforts to support House Concert series and develop new songwriter performance avenues and venues.

-    Develop a program of competitive educational scholarships to provide mentorship, training and financial awards for songwriters to develop their skills.

3) Support and sponsor music events such as festivals, single event shows, house concerts, songwriting contests, and music competitions.

-    Sponsor and co-sponsor musical and educational events which focus on singer-songwriter development.

-    Continue and expand the Campus Songwriters Competitions to reach out to more colleges and universities.

-    Create or support singer/songwriter showcase events and concert series for the local and regional community

- Sponsor and co-sponsor folk music and singer/songwriter oriented music festivals.

4) Educate the general public, particularly underserved audiences such as senior citizens and children, about folk music and the work of singer/songwriters.

-     Continue to fund and grow the annual Youth Camp, held each July at Quiet Valley Ranch, at which -80 children are sponsored to attend a 4-day music camp hosted by the Foundation with help from the Kerrville Folk Festival Producer, faculty and performers .   This program is in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas.

-     Develop outreach programs to bring songwriters and folk music education programs to local and regional audiences, i.e. schools, hospitals, elder care facilities, community and group events.

-    Work with community groups, schools, colleges, and universities to co-develop music education curricula site-specific to our home at the Threadgill Theatre and co-create music camps and similar programs and events.

5) Assure the perpetual growth of Foundation programs and events during the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Rice Festival and other Foundation-sponsored festivals and events, and assure continued growth of the Foundation's home at the Threadgill Theatre through proper management of financial, human, and ecological resources.

-    Continue the development and administration of the Friends of the TFMF fundraising campaign to create a broad base of annual support.

-    Maintain and utilize the data base of donors, Friends, volunteers, and sponsors for notices of meetings, news, fundraising efforts and other events

-    Create and manage fundraising activities consistent with our mission and vision, including ongoing direct mail or e-mail to Friends' for donations, targeted program fundraising, and special events.

-    Continue to attract volunteers dedicated to fulfilling the Foundation's program, administrative and development needs.