Culture Ireland is encouraging music presenters, promoters and artists to attend this year’s WOMEX world music expo in Copenhagen, taking place 26–30 October 2011, by providing a bursary to cover accommodation and flights.

Culture Ireland is the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts abroad, and in 2010 supported the first Irish delegation to WOMEX, when close to three thousand delegates from over ninety countries attended.

Attended by hundreds of concert and festival bookers, labels, managers, producers, publishers and distributors from around the globe, the expo has immense potential for networking opportunities.

Culture Ireland states: ‘Priority will be given to applicants who have experience of international touring and have established networks and contacts within the traditional music and folk music sector.’

The deadline for entries is the end of this working week, 5pm on Friday, 30 September 2011.

A large part of the five-day event is also the showcase performances of almost sixty different acts, chosen from thousands of entries worldwide. This year at WOMEX, The Máirtín O’Connor Band (see video below) was chosen to represent Ireland. Also, Gerry Godley of Improvised Music Company will be co-hosting a conference session titled ‘Blues and Roots: The Fertile Ground of Jazz & World Music’.

Furthermore, renowned South African anti-apartheid trumpeter Hugh Masekela (pictured) will be presented with the WOMEX 11 artist award, on the final day of the festival.

For further information, see the link below, or contact: madeline.boughton [at] cultureireland.gov.ie / call + 353 1 631 3906.

www.cultureireland.gov.ie