User:FWCultures/sandbox

Introduction
The Festival of World Cultures 2001-2010 was an annual International music and arts festival that celebrated the vibrancy and diversity of world cultures and artistic traditions. It was Ireland's largest open-air weekend festival and Europe’s largest multicultural arts event, attracting over 250,000 visitors.

The festival was an RTÉ televised event (2004 - 2009) and one of Europe's most popular 'world music' festivals. In 2010 Songlines Magazine voted it as one of the ‘Top 25 Music Festivals in the World'.

The Festival presented its last large-scale event in 2010. See 2010 website.

Location
Staged throughout the historic port of Dún Laoghaire, the Festival took place in over 40 locations throughout the town, ranging from theatres and hotels to parks, piers and plazas. Key venues: Newtownsmith Main Stage (20,000 capacity), People’s Park, Harbour Plaza, Pavilion Theatre, Purty Loft, Monkstown Church, Kingston Hotel, Royal Marine Hotel.

Background
In 2000 founding director Jody Ackland and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s Arts Office launched the Festival of World Cultures to commemorate the millennium and to address social inclusion in the context of Ireland’s changing demographic.

Producers
A Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council event produced by an external festival team, including Magnum Events and KCL Sound.

Programme
Alongside a world class programme of concerts & club nights, the Festival presented a multi-disciplinary programme of: spectacles & productions, carnivals, fairs & markets, dance & street performance, talks & dialogue events, exhibitions, films, workshops and more. The programme included exclusive productions, debuts, commissions and community outreach projects. The festival offered a combination of free and ticketed events.

Music Sample:

Mariza, Seu Jorge, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Khaled, Rokia Traoré, Rachid Taha, Calypso Rose, Ethiopiques, Super Rail Band, Iarla Ó Lionáird + Tanya Tagaq + Adjajas, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Orchestra Poly Rythmo de Cotonou, Ayub Ogada, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Oumou Sangare, Donal Lunny, Dub Colossus, Sain Zahoor, Fun ‘da’ Metal & The Mighty Zulu Nation, Ojos de Brujo, Kíla + Oki, Dakhabrakha, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Jane Birkin, Orchestre National de Barbes....

See Music line-ups 2001–2010

See Special Events and Music Commissions

See Photo Gallery

Download Festival Programmes

Artistic Policy
Challenge preconceptions, stereotypes and broadened the understanding of art and culture in a global context by representing indigenous, innovative and developing arts practice through a line-up of world music artists. Foster collaborations between Irish and International artists and provide opportunities for artistic exchange and innovative practise on a local, national and international level. Using a wide variety of mediums the Festival aimed to deepen and diversify the public's, artist's and facilitator's experience through integrated arts participation.

Social Inclusion Ethos
Enhance artistic expression and integration of Ireland’s newer communities by providing opportunities for intercultural creative exchange and dialogue. Crossing cultural, ethnic, religious and social bridges the Festival was a platform to develop a positive public response to integration, nurturing respect for diversity through the arts. With a 'quality arts' and 'community development' agenda the Festival aimed to broaden perceptions of culture and ethnicity, to enable audiences (nationals and non-Irish nationals) to participate and contribute more fully into contemporary life in Ireland.

Community Participation
The festival created an opportunity for audiences to reflect on Ireland’s cultural transition and to experience thought-provoking encounters that would stimulate public dialogue surrounding the future of Irish society. Through a programme that invited participation and collaboration and with an extensive marketing campaign that focused on developing new community audiences, the festival aimed to offer a sense of place and belonging for Ireland’s non-nationals.

The Festival prioritised engaging and educational programmes for children and developed outreach projects with the local authority's Community Arts, Environmental Awareness and Social Inclusion officers.

The Festival engaged approx. 470 volunteers and provided a training course for 80 technical volunteers who received a certificate of participation; numerous volunteers worked their way into paid roles.

Highlights and Statistics
Ireland's largest international arts festival; attracting 250,000 visitors in 2008 Presented over 1720 concerts and events in 10 years Developed over 200 Programme Partnerships (2001-2010) An RTÉ televised event for 6 years (2003-2008) A Google Social Responsibility Partner for 4 years (2006-2010)

2010 statistics: 230,000 Visitors;  261 Events;  243  Acts & Facilitators;  47 Venues/Locations; 46 Countries Represented;  450 Volunteers

Awards
Top 25 Music Festivals in the World 2010 - Songlines Magazine

Irish Festival Awards 2009 - Best Value Festival

Association of Irish Festivals and Events 2008 - Most Supportive Local Authority Award

Irish Festival Awards 2008 - Best Medium Festival

Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Award 2008

Irish Festival Awards 2007 - Family Festival Award

Association of Irish Festivals and Events 2006 - Best Design

Association of Irish Festivals and Events 2005 - Best Design

Excellence in Local Government Awards 2004

Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMA) 2005 - Multicultural Initiative

Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMA) 2004 - Multicultural Initiative

Campaigns Supported
The Festival supported the work of a range of NGOs; establishing programme partnerships with: Oxfam Ireland; Médecins San Frontières; Camara - Technology Powering Education; Freemuse - World Forum on Music Censorship; Amnesty International; Concern; Unicef; Friends Of The Earth. The Festival also endorsed the work of the Coalition To Stop The Use of Child Soldiers.

Programme Partners
A full list of programme partners

Quotes
“Ireland's most family friendly Festival - an urban Glastonbury.” Jim Carroll, Irish Times

“The Festival sought out diversity in this year's programme to match anything you'll encounter in the so-called melting pot of NYC or in the most ambitiously programmed WOMAD festivals of Peter Gabriel.” Siobhán Long, Irish Times