This exhibition is a group show of new work by a diverse range of over forty contemporary artists from the UK, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, U.S.A and Japan taking as a starting point a humble white handkerchief. Artists working in a wide range of media have been invited to take part, and all have been sent a single handkerchief with which to work. Artists include: Billy Childish, Alan Kane, Cathy Lomax, Matt Stokes and Bishi. More details including a full list of confirmed artists can be found here.

Thursday 7 May
Jigs and Rituals: British Folklore on Film
8.45pm, £9, £6.65 conc. from www.bfi.org / 020 7923 3232

Friday 8 May / Saturday 9 May
Folk Art, Let's Dance
7pm / 2.30 - 11pm, £10 - £15
Tickets: www.sadlerswells.com or 0844 412 4300

Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May witnesses the fruits of a collaboration between the English Folk Dance and Song Society and Sadler's Wells presenting the folk dance weekender Folk Art, Let's Dance. The transatlantic venture brings together dancers from across the UK and USA to celebrate the diverse forms of English and North American folk dances.

Friday 8 May at Sadler's Wells, 7pm, £12
Sadler's Wells Theatre & the Lilian Baylis Studio, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN

Film-maker Alex Reuben presents a live show inspired by his acclaimed film Routes, a dance road movie taking us through the social dance communities of the USA's deep South. The screening is followed by live performances from some of the artists featured in the film.

Saturday 9 May at Cecil Sharp House
2.30 - 6pm Talk and Workshop £10, Evening Performance £15

The day kicks off with a talk from Phil Jamison exploring the pan-European, African-American and Native American influences that have informed this tradition drawing upon Cecil Sharp's accounts while collecting songs and dances in Kentucky in 1917. Phil Jamison, Rayna Gellert, Tuscarora Indians, Kerry Fletcher and Tim Brooks follow with workshops on Southern English and Appalachian step as well as Tuscarora Social Dance. Workshops are available for both beginners and advanced dancers.

The closing night of this Folk Dance weekender focuses on the cross fertilisation of influences amongst trans-Atlantic dance tradition. Look, listen and resign yourself to the insatiable urge to dance as English Gypsy group The Orchard Family, Cajun maestros Petit et la Gross and barn dance super group Cut-A-Shine introduce their potent crafting and updating of time honoured traditions. Expect florid dance displays, lightening stepping and whole audience strip the willows and Do Si Dos.

Sunday 10 May
May in a Day!
Doors 1.30pm, 2 - 5.30pm, Adult £3, Child £2

An exuberant afternoon celebration of all things spring, May and Maypoles! For children of all ages and their families. Family barn dancing, Maypole dancing, Morris Dancing from Sharp Morris and Native American social dancing with special guests the Tuscarora Indian Nation of North Carolina, USA. Springtime customs and characters, drop-in visual art making sessions and help build a giant Lego maypole! Cash or cheque payments only.

Saturday 16 May / Saturday 30 May
What the Folk? Lectures
1pm, £5, Free to enrolled Saturday Workshop Students

The What the Folk? Lecture series continues with EFDSS artist-in-residence Matthew Cowan on Saturday 16 May. Folky, Folkie will provide fascinating insight into his art practice, debate of folks relationship to the art world and enlightenment to the current exhibition at the house, Flash Company.

Saturday 30 May sees John White present the final What the Folk? Lecture of the term with Songs of the Music Hall, Songs of the People. Through vivid account, stories and anecdotes, John White will practice what he preaches in song and humour using the very British manner that was born out of the Music Halls themselves.