Results of the survey “Folklore in conditions of social distancing”

As a result of the crisis caused by the COVID’19 pandemic, the EAFF team conducted an online survey on “Folklore in conditions of social distancing”. The research took place in the period 24.04.2020 - 12.05.2020. The eleven questions from the short survey provide information about the role of folklore in the context of global crisis and social isolation.

Dance formations, choirs, instrumental groups and mixed ensembles from Algeria, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Great Britain, Bulgaria and Ukraine took part in the web questionnaire.

The processing of the results obtained thanks to the empirical research presented us with the information that 42.9% of the respondents assess the role of folklore in the conditions of global crisis and social distancing as positive, 14.3% do not have a definite opinion on the issue, and 7.1% believe that folklore is a unifier.

The written set of questions tell us that according to 64.3% of respondents the pandemic has had a negative impact on the processes of preservation and dissemination of folklore. 14.3% believe that the situation does not negatively affect the object of analysis, and the rest believe that extraordinary measures are very likely to have a negative impact on this type of creativity.

73.3% of the respondents continue their folklore classes and upgrade their knowledge in the field. 41.7% achieve it through individual classes, 41.7% through online activities, 8.3% participate in online festivals and only 8.3% conduct group rehearsals.

The fact-finding method indicates that 86.7% of the respondents would participate in a Webinar / online seminar / with a sample topic “Folklore in conditions of social distancing”.

As a result of the question of how long after the end of social isolation the respondents would be ready for a stage performance, it is clear that 50% would immediately participate in a folklore event, 28.6% would perform in a month, and 21.4% after two months.

The survey gave respondents the opportunity to share their ideas and suggestions on how traditions can be preserved, developed and transmitted in the current difficult situation. Some of the answers are:

• “Online chat. Exchange of experience”;
  
• “To promote online lessons and thus realize meetings with other teachers, participants and colleagues”;
  
• “A good solution would be to create a platform on which we can promote our culture by presenting videos”;
  
• “Suitable channel for this purpose are social networks”;
  
• “You can organize open-air festivals and spectators can enjoy the program from their cars”;
  
• “The only way to preserve and transmit traditions is through the World Wide Web and participation in online seminars”;
  
• “Conducting online rehearsals and competitions”,
  
• “Global online platform for online festival forums”.

The results of the study show that:

• The role of folklore in the context of global crisis and social distancing is positive.
  
• The pandemic situation has a negative impact on the processes of preservation and dissemination of folklore.
  
• A large part of the respondents continue to maintain their music and dance activities and to upgrade their knowledge in the field of folklore art in alternative ways.
  
• A large part of the respondents would participate in a webinar / online seminar / with a sample topic “Folklore in conditions of social distancing.”
  
• Half of the respondents are ready to appear on stage immediately after the end of social isolation.
  
• The ideas and suggestions of the participants in the research, in connection with the ways of preserving, developing and transmitting the traditions in the current situation, are focused on online activities.

Through the research, EAFF aims to fulfill its main mission by optimizing efforts to preserve and spread the intangible cultural heritage, which more than ever needs protection in order to play a unifying role in the most difficult global times.

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