Euronews report : Music Festivals gather in Morocco

The people who stage music festivals around the globe have been getting their heads together at their annual European forum at Agadir in Morocco.

The European Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals is the biggest federation of its type in the world, and gives organisers the chance to compare notes on potential artistic and administrative pitfalls, particularly with the current universal pressure on financing.... Read and see more

EUROPEAN WORLDWIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL MEETING

Agadir is hosting the annual meeting of the most important network of world music festivals, held for the first time in a southern country, next September.

Finally! For the first time the annual meeting of the most important federation of world music festivals is being held in a southern country, in this same part of the world that provides the vast majority of artists invited to perform in festivals located for the most part in northern countries. Agadir is hosting from the 20^th until the 23^rd of September 2012 the European Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals (EFWMF), a network of festivals sharing the vision that “the world is a patchwork of a multitude of local traditions and music, each different in expression and content yet equal in value”.

With organisations from more than 20 countries, Timitar and about 50 other members constitute this biggest network of independent world music festivals. Founded in 1991 and having just blown its 20^th candle, the EFWMF attracts each year over 3 million visitors to its festivals. Its actions are relayed worldwide not only through its members, but also through formal and informal networks, foundations and representations of the music export offices in partner countries.

The EFWMF is present in most of the international forums on music. The primary concerns of the EFWMF are artistic and artistically related issues. Although interaction between members - including sharing of information, experiences and contacts - is the core activity, EFWMF pursues an array of other activities such as the movement of artists (export, visas, tour management…). The EFWMF continuously seeks to facilitate and intensify links to non-European festivals and other networks within the world music community.

Based on tolerance and cultural exchange, and driven by the same concerns, the EFWMF has lately opened up to not only European festivals but to any festival organisers with a worldwide, or at least a clear trans-national approach. EFWMF is presenting music in the genre of world, ethnic, traditional, folk and roots music… In this regard, the EFWMF has developed the WOMEX (World Music Expo), the biggest market for world music, as well as the establishment of Strictly Mundial, an alternative market for world music.

By hosting the 3-day long annual meeting of the EFWMF, Agadir is demonstrating that besides being a highly touristic seaside resort, it is also a dynamic cultural destination particularly through its music, drawing on the musical richness of the whole region. Timitar has been sharing this wealth with all the Moroccans and worldwide. This cultural showcase of the Souss Massa Draâ region will celebrate in 2013 its 10-year landmark. The general assembly of the EFWMF is a great opportunity for its members to discover the rich cultural diversity of the region. Thus Agadir is honoured to host these festival organisers from Norway, Holland, France, Belgium, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Italy…

Festival Timitar 

Art Dir : Brahim EL MAZNED

BP 6047 Anza 80002 Agadir Maroc

prodtimitar@gmail.com

belmazned@yahoo.fr

www.festivaltimitar.ma

New Member : Festival de Músicas Mestizas y +, MUMES

                             The Fusion and + Music Festival, MUMES, is a cultural initiative which first saw the light of day in 2004, being born of a deep concern about xenophobic attitudes, which are rooted in ignorance of other cultures, a concern which is further accentuated by the current flow of migrants entering society in the Canary Islands, an archipelago which lies at the crossroads between three continents: Africa, America and Europe. MUMES celebrates the wealth of cultural heritage to be found on these three continents through its programme of activities, combining the visual arts, film showings, workshops, craft and gastronomy fairs, forums, debates and music. The Festival highlights, year after year, the importance of culture as a tool in the fight to build and strengthen tolerance between peoples. Its stages, a pantheon of artists and traditions from around the world, have been graced by figures of the calibre of Youssou N’Dour, Cheik Lô, Sgt García, Macaco, Amparanoia, Orishas e Ismaêl Lô, El Hijo de la Cumbia, Dj Kaan & Istanbul Percussions, Los de Abajo [México] and Angelique Kidyo amongst others. 

More info: www.mumes.es

Beautiful people at the AGM 2012 in Marseille, France

End of March the EFWMF organised its yearly annual meeting in Marseille, France, simultaneously with the Babel Med 2012. Almost 30 members attended the meetings that were held at the Club Pernod in the Vieux Port and later on enjoyed encounters and drinks at the stand as well as a great number of good showcases in the evening. We thank the Babel Med for inviting us and giving us the possiblity to meet in excellent conditions. See you next year!  

Renewal of the KAMS - EFWMF tour grants in 2012!

In early 2012, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service re-solicited applications for the KAMS-EFWMF Tour Grant, with the goal of promoting the international competitiveness and name recognition of Korea's traditional arts through a strategy of overseas performance arrangements.

This support effort was initiated in 2010 under the joint operation of the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) and the European Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals (EFWMF). Applicants were EFWMF partner festivals confirmed to be in negotiations toward inviting Korean traditional music groups for performance. Once support has been confirmed, the Korean performing artists and/or arts groups invited by the festivals in question will receive assistance to cover airfare and freight transportation costs.

Applications were accepted between March 16 and March 30, 2012, and reviewed on April 9.

 The final selection results can be found on: http://eng.gokams.or.kr/01_kams/kams_view.aspx?Idx=189&flag=notice