WOMAD Foundation programme.
“To provide opportunities through the World of Music, Arts & Dance for diversity & global education, access to world culture and personal & artistic development; enabling the growth of a peaceful confident shared creative society, where everyone feels welcome to celebrate and share their identity'
Beyond Skin since 2013 have been developing WOMAD projects in Northern Ireland acting as a local partner for WOMAD Festivals and Foundation.
Already one of the longest established cultural events in the world, WOMAD have hosted festivals in more than 30 countries, with the WOMAD experience enjoyed by a collective audience of millions. Over the years their aims have remained strong and true: whether at festivals or other performance events, through recorded releases or educational projects, WOMAD aim to excite, to create, to inform and to highlight awareness of the worth and potential of an intercultural society.
The festival is the brainchild of internationally renowned musician Peter Gabriel.
“Pure enthusiasm for music from around the world led us to the idea of WOMAD in 1980 and thus to the first WOMAD Festival in 1982…the festivals have also allowed many different audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music. Music is a universal language – it draws people together and proves, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism.”
Supported by WOMAD Foundation the World of Music & Arts & Dance (WOMADNI) education programme was launched in January 2013 supported under the Belfast PEACE III Plan by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund through the PEACE III Programme.
From the initial Belfast City Council Peace III Creative Legaies investment, the WOMAD Foundation in Northern Ireland programme has blossomed expanding across Northern Ireland attracting addition investors.
To date in Northern Ireland we have...
Hosted over 600 workshops & 6 large showcase events - provided paid employment to over 120 professionals & artists - engaged over 5.000 direct participants. Along the way bringing communities together - empowering young people - raising local confidence and understanding of different cultures - nuturing the Arts, whilst also providing access to for people to work alongside World Class Artists. That's what we consider to be the definition of a legacy!
2017: We hosted the WOMAD Foundation Growing Music project and had the pleasure of welcoming guest artists from Tanzania, Ghana, Jamaica, Colombia and the group Heartbeat
