National Folklore Survey

This project addresses the lack of robust research evidence into the cultural value of folklore in post-Brexit, post-pandemic England. It aims to create new data to answer two research questions, in a multicultural society: 'How have folkloric beliefs and practices shaped England's social, cultural and spiritual identity?' and 'To what extent are ideas of nationalism and colonial attitudes informed by contemporary notions of English folklore?'.

The project will be led by Dr David Clarke and supported by specialists in English folklore from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Hertfordshire with an international collaborator who has directed two large belief surveys in the USA. Our challenge is to capture an accurate snapshot of the folklore of multicultural England and gain a new understanding of the impact of colonial and empire narratives on previous surveys. A survey will produce new knowledge, insights and understanding of contemporary English folk culture at a time when many individuals and communities feel 'a conflicted sense of identity' (Olusoga 2023). The timing is important as 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the original Survey of Language and Folklore at the University of Sheffield and the planned ratification by the UK government of the UNESCO convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

The overarching project aim is to provide the first empirical evidence base for analysis of contemporary English folklore through the development and deployment of a national survey. The rich dataset produced will be used to develop a range of accessible outputs for the academic, policy, heritage sectors and wider general publics that will raise awareness of the value of folklore as a cultural asset.
The project aim will be achieved via these objectives:

To produce the first representative national survey of folklore in multicultural England, commissioned from IPSOS UK;
to create an accessible online platform for data...