Cardiff chosen for prestigious music expo
Cardiff has been selected as the city to host WOMEX, the leading world music expo, in 2013, after a year-long campaign to bring the event to the Welsh capital.
Described by UNESCO as the most important international professional market of world music of every kind, WOMEX evening performances will be held at the Wales Millennium Centre, and the day time showcases, trade fair, conference and film screenings will be held at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff.
The fully programmed, prestigious international showcase event is expected to include around 60 concerts featuring 300 plus artists, a trade fair exhibiting in the region of 650 companies from over 90 countries, as well as more than 400 national and international journalists, and will take place between the 23-27th of October, 2013.
Cardiff presented WOMEX with the best all-round offer in the bidding process and beat tough international competition to host WOMEX including Glasgow and Dublin.
The bid to host WOMEX in 2013 was led by Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales, a partnership between Welsh Music Foundation, Wales Arts International and Arts Council of Wales, with support from British Council and Welsh Government. It aims to accelerate the export-ready music sector, promote the music sector of Wales internationally and to bring the world stage to Wales. Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Council and Cardiff & Co, are all formal partners for WOMEX 13 Cardiff.
Cardiff offered WOMEX the best all-round offer in the bidding process. The quality and size of the Wales Millennium Centre impressed the organizers, who visited Wales on a site visit earlier this year. All night time events can be held within the building and the adjoining Roald Dahl Plass, making it easy for delegates and audiences to go from one performance to the other.
The Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales “team Wales” approach also provided a competitive advantage, showing a united approach of partners across the city and in local and national government. WOMEX 13 Cardiff brings the world music market to our doorstep. It is the first major arts trade showcase Wales will host.
As well as the more obvious economic gains of visitors and hotel beds, there is a real opportunity to develop the music industry in Wales on the back of WOMEX. In that respect it will act as a Catalyst to develop the infrastructure and music in Wales. Wales has a musical heritage that has both cultural and economic value and has yet to be showcased to this market.
WOMEX 13 Cardiff brings an opportunity for traditional music in Wales to be given international exposure and to tie in the sector in Wales with the wider UK and the world.
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14/10/2011
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