Back to Galicia:
WOMEX 16 Sends Messages of Peace and Collaboration Across Borders,
Calypso Rose Receives WOMEX 16 Artist Award

 

Santiago de Compostela: WOMEX 16 – the 22nd edition of the most important meeting for international music professionals – ended on a high note today in Santiago de Compostela's Auditorio Abanca, as three tireless innovators in the world of music were recognised as part of the WOMEX Awards.

WOMEX returned to Santiago de Compostela for the second time in three years this October with more than 2,400 music professionals from 95 countries taking over the Galician city for five days and nights. Over the course of intense media coverage, WOMEX was proclaimed “the music Olympics” by El Tiempo Colombia among others, and Martiño Noriega, the Mayor of Santiago expanded: "Santiago is the capital city of Galicia, and also these days the capital of music. WOMEX is already an important part of our history as a city that loves music and that represents itself in the diversity of its rhythms from all over the world.”

WOMEX Director Alex Walter reflected: "It was, again, a great pleasure to work in Santiago and with our friends at Nordesía Producións. It was a privilege to be welcomed here and we are spoiled by moving from Santiago to Katowice for WOMEX 17, from one city fully dedicated to music to another."

The WOMEX Trade Fair was the biggest ever at a World Music Expo – 717 companies and institutions, exhibiting at 291 stands. WOMEX 16 showed that its community of devoted global music professionals do not only make cross-cultural business: many of the national delegations present used the WOMEX platform to convey strong messages of peace and collaboration, ranging from the Colombian peace movement to plans for post-Brexit collaborations.

After a much praised edition in 2014, WOMEX 16 was held in the same venues, with the impressive hilltop Cidade da Cultura hosting the daytime Conference and Trade Fair. In the nighttime, the old town theatres of Santiago held the WOMEX Showcase Festival and the newly-inaugurated WOMEX Film Nights.

The 2016 edition equalled the attention of the 2014 edition in Santiago in terms of delegate numbers. Altogether, more than 2,400 professionals – not including performing artists – represented 95 countries at WOMEX this year.

WOMEX 16 was realised by Piranha Arts, Berlin (who turn 30 in January), together with the local partner Nordesía Producións, with whom they also collaborated in 2014. The event was made possible by the kind support and funding of the Council of Santiago de Compostela, the Deputación da Coruña (a province of A Coruña Government) and the Galician Government.

Antonio Martinez of Nordesía Producións said: "We are very honoured to be part of WOMEX for a second time on our 20th anniversary. And we are also very happy to bring WOMEX to Santiago de Compostela again, welcome all the WOMEXicans to our beloved city and make our small contribution to promote the diversity in our country, and our culture in the rest of the world."
 
The next edition of WOMEX will be held 25-29 October 2017 in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. See below for more information.

Read on below for more detailed WOMEX 16 impressions.

WOMEX drew to a close for its 22nd edition with the Award ceremony today, Sunday, 23 October. Delegates gathered in Santiago de Compostela’s Auditorio Abanca to celebrate the careers and achievements in artistry and professionalism by three key world music players.

Calypso legend Calypso Rose (Trinidad & Tobago) was presented with the WOMEX 16 Artist Award; Colombian hip-hop school 4Elementos Skuela received the Professional Excellence Award (represented at WOMEX by founder Henry Arteaga); and the Label Award went to Glitterbeat Records for the third year running.

Henry Arteaga delivered his acceptance speech in part via a capella rap, and also stated the importance and symbolism of the WOMEX Award: "Our neighbourhood and our school are more alive and happier than ever and it is them who really deserve the applause. I am ashamed that in my country thousands of people think more can be achieved through war instead of through peace. Music on the other hand, born from the soul, is made to connect one another. The WOMEX Award ancient goddess figurine represents a mother – and we may have forgotten it, but this signifies something very special – love. This Award thus for me is a symbol of what we need now for rescuing my country and its future.”
  
Receiving her award, Calypso Rose told the WOMEX delegates “I would especially like to thank WOMEX, the World Music Expo…but now I want to keep you on your feet by dancing!”
 
The ceremony itself then ended with a bang: a special performance saw Calypso Rose joined on stage by the all-star ‘Calypso Sound System’ featuring Drew Gonsalves and other members of Kobo Town, and left the audience dancing in the aisles.
 

The WOMEX 16 Trade Fair was the biggest one ever to be held in what have now been 22 editions of the World Music Expo. 717 companies and institutions as well as national delegations and export offices exhibited on 291 stands that filled the Cidade da Cultura. Over the course of three and a half days, a never-to-be-counted number of ideas were exchanged, tours booked, showcase artists signed and business made.
 

WOMEX Serves as Platform for International Messages

Many country delegations and related institutions used the WOMEX platform to send out strong messages of peace and understanding. The strong Colombian delegation staged various actions for #Paz in their home country, headed by showcase artist Puerto Candelaria, Circulart and Professional Excellence Award winner Henry Arteaga.

The Brexit topic was discussed, with delegates sending a strong signal of creative sector support of remaining in the EU, and the Horizons initiative (founded at WOMEX 13 in Cardiff) presented their current work strengthening cross-European ties to avoid negative Brexit impact in the sector. Other important issues and initiatives were presented at WOMEX, including the “Charter for World Music”, introduced by Zone Franche, and dedicated conference sessions regarding topics such as Music and Migration.
 

Held in various locations and on six stages around Santiago de Compostela's old town (as well as the Daycase stage in Cidade da Cultura), the WOMEX Showcase Festival featured a global range of music. 43 countries were represented in more than 60 performances by a total of 289 musicians. Styles spanned global borders from the latest Afrotrap to the centuries-old Uzbek classical shashmaqam, Korean high-art jazz rock to Gaelic Canadian folk and Guadeloupean blues. The festival also allowed WOMEX to present its very first performing artists from Uganda and Chad.
 
The Atlantic Connections stage made its return, allowing delegates to discover the global cultural relationships of the host region Galicia, and the Opening, entitled 'Iberians: Music Tapas Menu' took a musical tour of the peninsula. The DJ Summit, which was held in Sala Capitol, featured global club sounds of DJs from seven countries.
 

World music professionals from every sector took part in the ever-popular Conference programme. Together, they delved into such wide-ranging issues as censorship, music and identity, digital distribution and the future of the world music album. Together with the conference sessions and also exploring region-specific topics relating to Latin America, Asia, East Africa and the Arab world, 19 Network Meetings were held and both established and newly-created international networks gathered to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the industry.
 
The programme also saw the Mentoring sessions return for WOMEX 16, with eight experts offering tailored advice to delegates on subjects including legal solutions, publicity and business-craft.
 

WOMEX presented an in-house curated film programme for the second time, with eleven films being screened throughout both daytime and nighttime programmes. The films – which were co-productions of ten countries – included two world premieres, and were also shown at the first WOMEX Film Nights, which were open to the public as well as delegates.
 

WOMEX World Tour – Every Event in Attendance

For the first time, WOMEX and the European Broadcasting Union teamed up to create the EBU Radio Sessions. Three Official Showcase artists performed in the intimate setting of the WOMEX Radio Studio, recorded live in front of delegates for NRK Norway, BBC Radio 3 and KEPX Seattle. The Radio Studio also saw sessions, interviews and other radio show formats recorded live at WOMEX throughout the event.
 

The next edition of WOMEX will be held from 25-29 October 2017 in Katowice, Silesia, Poland. Local host and WOMEX 17 partner ICP Group (Poland Concept) was present at WOMEX 16 as were their partners, City of Gardens initiative, and the mayor of Katowice, all part of a 30-strong Polish delegation, which has grown throughout previous editions. 

A former mining city turned creative hub, Katowice was awarded the UNESCO City of Music label for their engagement, important music festivals as well as a cultural zone including the soon-to-be WOMEX venues such as the magnificent NOSPR concert hall. In a speech at Santiago City Hall, Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa, said: "Katowice is a city where music comes first, a fact strongly reinforced by the city’s acceptance into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. I am deeply convinced that all delegates will find a wealth of sounds in Katowice. WOMEX 17 will not only be a great opportunity to present music from Katowice, but also the Silesian region, Poland, and even Eastern Europe as a whole."

The decision to move to Katowice for WOMEX 17 is a conclusion of this development. Katowice presented itself to the delegates as the up-and-coming location in Central Europe, as well as serving as a portal to Eastern European musical traditions. Katowice is easy to reach from three international airports, has abundant hotels at hand and is known for its inexpensive and active city life.
 

Final Numbers: WOMEX 16 at a Glance

• 2400 professionals from 95 countries representing 1410 companies.
• 1030 event promoters.
• 620 labels, publishers and distributors.
• 416 governmental, educational and other institutions.
• 827 individual booking agents, 730 managers and 357 producers.
• 297 national and international journalists.
• A bustling Trade Fair with 717 exhibiting companies from 51 countries at 291 stands.
• More than 60 showcase acts with 289 musicians from 43 countries on 7 stages.
• The fifth WOMEX DJ Summit
• 83 speakers and mentors from 32 countries in 25 conference sessions; 19 network meetings and rresentations and 8 expert Mentorings.
• 11 films in daytime and evening screenings, co-produced in 10 countries and including public screenings for the first time.
• The Opening concert: 'Iberians: Music Tapas Menu'.
• Three WOMEX Awards honouring Calypso Rose from Trinidad & Tobago; Henry Arteaga on behalf of 4Elementos Skuela from Colombia; and label of the year, Glitterbeat Records, based in Germany.
• The WOMEX Radio Studio organised by Radio Galega (Galicia, Spain), in cooperation with EURORADIO of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and NRK (Norway).