Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s USArtists International (USAI) has grants available that support performances by U.S. dance, music, and theater ensembles and solo artists invited to perform at important cultural festivals and performing arts marketplaces anywhere in the world, outside the United States and its territories.
Grants of up to $15,000 are available. The next deadline is April 3, 2019 for engagements between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.
Since the program’s creation, USArtists International grantees have showcased the vibrant diversity of U.S. artists and creative expression in the performing arts.
Rivers of Sound Orchestra performed at the November Music Festival in The Netherlands with support from the 2019 USAI program. Credit: Tom Beetz.
USAI is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding and is the only program of its size and scope in the United States.
headline photo: 2019 USAI grantee Ledoh & Salt Farm in HEARTLAND at the International Butoh Festival Thailand. Credit: Terry Hatfield.
World Music Expo, WOMEX, has announced the members of the jury that will review showcase and conference proposals for the 2109 edition. WOMEX 2019 will take place in Tampere, Finland.
The Program consists of proposals coming from all over the globe and applications are divided into four categories: ‘Showcase’, ‘Club Summit’, ‘Conference’ and ‘Film’.
The seven curators, four women and three men, are active members of the world music community.
The Showcase Jury:
Alejandra Gómez (Colombia), director, Biche Amandine Saumonneau (France), coordinator, Zone Franche Divya Bhatia (India), artist director and producer, Jodhpur RIFF Tapio Korjus (Finland), managing director, Rockadillo Production OY Zlata Holušová (Czech Republic), festival director, Colours of Ostrava
The Conference Jury:
Hinurewa te Hau (New Zealand), director, Tamaki Makaurau Matariki Festival Trust
Virgo Sillamaa (Estonia), director, Music Estonia
Club Summit Curator
Emily Dust, renowned DJ, promoter and broadcaster, will be curating the WOMEX Club Summit, a series of customized club nights that feature a line-up of DJs and producers, highlighting the trends, sounds and beats featured on dancefloors across the world.
The global youth-music nonprofit, JM International (JMI),
has announced a new development to its Ethno program. 2019 will mark the
beginning of a 3-year project to strengthen the program’s effect, outreaching
more young musicians worldwide, strengthening the program’s organizational
capacity and bringing greater attention to the vital work being done through
Ethno.
JM International reports that access to music education and
opportunities for youth around the globe are currently inadequate and mostly available
only to those with the economic resources to access them. These new
opportunities will allow young people to develop skills in music, enhance their
personal growth, and to expose them to their own and other cultures.
Ethno is JM International’s program for folk, world and
traditional music, directed at young musicians (13-30). Founded in 1990 in
Falun, Sweden, Ethno’s mission is to revive, invigorate and disseminate our
global traditional musical heritage. Today Ethno is present in over 20
countries, running a series of annual international music camps, workshops and
concerts that promote peace, tolerance and understanding.
At the core of Ethno lies its democratic peer-to-peer learning approach, where young musicians teach each other the music from their countries and cultures. This non-formal pedagogy provides a unique opportunity for young people from across the globe to come together and engage through music, in a manner characterized by respect, generosity and openness.
Ethno workshop
This project is made possible through a grant from Margaret
A. Cargill Philanthropies, and new efforts will focus on five distinct pillars:
Ethno Mobility – An average of 100 young musicians annually will receive a full scholarship to attend various Ethnos around the world, covering their flights, transport, food, accommodation and participation.
Ethno Research – A 3-year Ethno research project will be carried out by the International Centre for Community Music based in York St. John’s University in the UK. The study will focus on the efefct that Ethno has had on the lives of young musicians, personally and professionally, over the past 30 years.
Ethno USA – The establishment of the first-ever Ethno on US soil. Beginning with a stakeholder meeting in 2019, followed by Ethno USA in 2020 and 2021 in the Midwest, bringing the world to the USA and the diversity of the USA to the world.
Ethno Organisers Annual Training – A peer-2-peer annual training for all organizers of the Ethno program, strengthening and building capacity amongst organizers, sharing best practices and creating a more sustainable program together.
Ethno Organisational Support – An investment into the human and material resources needed to carry out the Ethno program, ensuring that Ethno’s outreach and effect only continue to grow and reach more and more people worldwide.
Ethno workshop
This new development to the Ethno program is set to broaden the cultural horizons of many young people, and in a time when the world is in increased need of open, respectful dialogue between its peoples and nations through music.
WOMEX, the World Music Expo is welcoming showcase, film and
conference proposals from artists, bands, DJs and producers, filmmakers,
industry experts and creative thinkers. WOMEX 2019 will take place in Tampere,
Finland, October 23 – 27, 2019.
The pool of proposals will be selected by an independent,
international and annually changing jury, also known as the Seven Samurai.
Proposals can be made in four categories: Showcase, Club Summit, Film and Conference and can be submitted from the dedicated website: www.womex-apply.com
The deadline for proposals for WOMEX 2019 is Friday, March 22, 2019.
Headline photo: Tampere, Koski panorama – Photo by Juha Suhonen
Folk Alliance International has announced Tanya Tagaq as its 2019 keynote speaker. The conference will take place February 13-17 in Montreal, Canada.
She is an acclaimed Inuk throat singer from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, in the Canadian Arctic who uses delightful, surprising vocal improvisations that connect traditional roots with contemporary culture.
Tanya is a
2014 Polaris Prize-winning recording artist (Animism), author of a 2018
Scotiabank Giller Prize longlisted novel (Split Tooth), an actress, a painter,
and has collaborated extensively with Bjork, Kronos Quartet, Shooglenifty, and
the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
The
recipient of multiple Juno Awards (Canada’s top music award) and a Canadian
Folk Music Award, her work concentrates on topics ranging from food sovereignty
and environmental issues to the plight of women and indigenous peoples.
Tagaq is a
mother of two and a Member of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest
honors.
World Music Central has compiled the list of best world music albums of 2018 selected by our editors and contributors as well as our partners at the Transglobal World Music Chart and our colleagues at the European World Music Chart.
The best live event of the year was, without doubt, Moira Smiley’s one-of-a-kind CD release concert, an intimate and truly magical performance in the City of Angels.
Daryana Antipova (Russia), World Music Central and Transglobal World Music Chart
Koum Tara by Karim Maurice & Sid-Ahmed Belksier El Berencesa by Hossam Ramzy Daa Dee by Minyeshu Battle of Kings by Saor Patrol Soar by Catrin Finch/Seckou Keita A Cry For Revolution by Los Rupay Yiddish Glory – Various Artists Melodic Circles by Rostami
Angel Romero Ruiz (USA), World Music Central, Músicas del Mundo and Transglobal World Music Chart
Opium Moon – Opium Moon – Be Why Music The Gloaming – Live at the NCH – Real World Records The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices – Boocheemish – Prophecy Bokanté + Metropole Orkest – What Heat – Real World Records Shooglenifty and Dhun Dhora – Written in Water – Shoogle Records Shadi Fathi, Bijan Chemirani – Delâshena – Buda Musique Dayramir Gonzalez – The Grand Concourse – Machat Records Kittel & Co. – Whorls – Compass Records El Naan – La Danza de las Semillas – El Naan SANS – Kulku – Cloud Valley
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Mauritius until 1 December, inscribed reggae on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Representative List seeks to enhance visibility for the traditions and know-how of communities without recognizing standards of excellence or exclusivity.
Originating within the cultural space of marginalized groups, mainly in Western Kingston, the Reggae Music of Jamaica combines musical influences from earlier Jamaican forms as well as Caribbean, North American and Latin strains. Its basic functions as a vehicle of social commentary, as a cathartic experience, and means of praising God remain unchanged, and the music continues to provide a voice for all.
Students are taught how to play it from an early age, and festivals and concerts are central to ensuring its viability.
The grand opening of the 24th edition of the World Music Expo, WOMEX took place yesterday evening, October 24th, at Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. The event demonstrated the historical and strategic position of the Canary Islands as a hub for the exchange of cultures.
Aurora at WOMEX 2018 opening – Photo by Yannis Psathas
With more than 1,200 guests in attendance, and four outstanding performances by AKA Trio (Senegal, Italy & Brazil), new wave flamenco project Aurora, Brazilian alt-indie songwriter LaBaq and acclaimed mestizo group from the island of Tenerife, Caracoles, the evening ended on high note with all the artists coming together on stage for one final performance.
Tránsitos Atlánticos was curated by Germán López, the timple (small Canary Islands guitar) star of the Canary Islands, who was the artistic director for this year.
Germán López – Photo by Jacob Crawfurd
On bringing WOMEX to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria this year, Alex Walter, director of WOMEX expressed: “It truly is a unique destination when looking at the travel history of WOMEX, as we’ve never been so far in the European south and at the same time so close to Africa. The aim of WOMEX always was and is to offer a platform where cultural operators can meet and promote their working fields and present inspiring ideas.”
The Canary Islands – with their particular geographical position on the Atlantic Ocean route from Europe to the New World, and just a few kilometers away from the African continent – have a long story in the exchange of cultures.
Antonio Morales, president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria (island government), was greeted with applause. He communicated: “In these serious times, where different governments and world organizations are proposing to close borders, reduce rights, treat people like goods, here in Gran Canaria, we must send a clear message of respect for human rights and solidarity with those who suffer war or poverty. We must raise our voices against racist, xenophobic or class-based discrimination that forgets the supreme value of life and equality among all people.”
Also present among the dignitaries were, Mr. Isaac Castellano, Regional Minister of Tourism and Culture of the Canarias Government. He stated: “WOMEX brings together the most influential opinion writers on roots music. WOMEX brings together all aspects of the music industry, from management and bookings to the release of recordings and publishing. But the most important thing is that WOMEX is an international meeting woven from the materials of cultural diversity.”
Mr. Augusto Hidalgo, mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria said: “For a few days, and thanks to WOMEX, we, the people of the Canary Islands, will be happy, feeling among each other that broad embrace of solidarity between very distant and different people united by the universal language that is music. With the celebration of WOMEX, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is renewing its commitment to culture.”
headline photo: WOMEX 2018 – Photo by Yannis Psathas
The Rhythm Foundation announced today that rising Syrian electronic music star Omar Souleyman has had to cancel his upcoming fall 2018 United States performances due to visa complications beyond his control.
The Found Sound Nation OneBeat music residency will take place in September and October 2018. The project will bring together 25 international artists from 18 countries for 1 intense month to collaboratively create musical performances, installations, pop-up events and workshops in U.S. communities. The artists will later take their work back to their home countries. Also this September, Found Sound Nation (FSN) will reimagine the children’s game “Telephone” as a new online music collaboration experience called Telephenesis.
In addition, FSN’s collaboration with Symphony for a Broken Orchestra will go digital with the launch of an online tool giving the world access to an intelligent sound-typewriter — Broken Orchestra Remixed. It uses the sampled sounds of over 800 broken instruments to create original pieces by simply typing a message, poem or set of words.
OneBeat, a public-private initiative of Found Sound Nation, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Bang on a Can, employs collaborative original music as a new form of cultural diplomacy. Now in its 7th year, the program will illustrate the transformative power of music-making to bring people together to develop more peaceful, prosperous and harmonious societies around the world.
This year’s residency will also explore themes of communication inspired by NASA’s 1977 Voyager Golden Records. It begins by bringing together emerging artists from around the world to the United States to work with American peers and master artists to stage a multi-state tour that supports community engagement, arts entrepreneurship and develops a global network of civically engaged initiatives. FSN OneBeat’s musicians also set out their plans for the future, developing projects in their home countries linked to a global network of music-driven social enterprises and over 175 fellows. The Fellows will create a time capsule of original work to synthesize past, present, and future modes of human creative potential, showcasing music’s potential to build, maintain and repair relationships across borders. This work will be presented during a U.S. tour as a series of live performances, youth workshops and a culminating album.
OneBeat 2018 Tour Dates:
09/14/2018 – Timucua White House | Orlando, FL
09/28/2018 – Atlantic Center for The Arts, FL
10/02/2018 – Circular Church | Charleston, SC
10/03/2018 – Redux | Charleston, SC
10/05/2018 – Creative Alliance | Baltimore, MD
10/06/2018 – Eubie Blake Cultural Center, MD
10/11/2018 – Bronx Museum, NY
10/12/2018 – Queens Museum | Queens, NY
10/13/2018 – Murmrr | Brooklyn, NY
