The English Folk Dance and Song Society was formed in 1932 by the merger of two organizations, the Folk-Song Society, and the English Folk Dance Society. The Folk-Song Society, founded in 1898, was founded by a number of individual folk song collectors and enthusiasts who wanted to share their experience and improve the quality of collecting and publishing. Although the main area of interest is the folk songs of Britain and Ireland, no geographical limit is set to the society's activities. The English Folk Dance and Song Society's aims are to maintain itself as a centre of excellence for the study, practice and dissemination of traditional English folk song, dance and music; to provide national and local outreach services that enable and increase access; and to celebrate diversity and promote equality.