The short form WOMAD reads: World of Music, Arts and Dance, and the fundamental plan of this event is to organize and to have fun with a lot of forms of music, arts and dance taken from all over the world.
WOMAD was started by Peter Gabriel and the idea behind it was just passion for music. The first international festival took place in England, in 1982. All the following ones have been fantastic and exclusive events introducing audience to international artists. Moreover, the festivals have also let many different people see various cultures. Music is universal; it unites people and eliminates racism. WOMAD wants to inform and generate knowledge of the values and possibilities of a multicultural society.
Since the first festival, WOMAD has organised more than 145 concerts and other events in more than twenty different places. Starting from the UK, the festival gradually became international. It spread to Denmark Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Canary Islands and Sicily. The festival usually takes the whole weekend and there is a variety of events, as whole families with children usually arrive, so there must be something interesting for everyone. The visiting artists produce their own shows and there are many interesting productions to see on several stages at the same time.
In 1983 a charity organization was established. It is the WOMAD foundation that organises festival workshops and other educational projects. Everybody cantake part in a workshop or lead one.
Because of its character, WOMAD has done more for freedom of opinion and tolerance than the politicians and governments with their laws and rules. WOMAD appeals to those people who enjoy freedom of mind and like their neighbours with all their cultural diversity.
