World Fest
World Fest tours international musicians to Midwestern communities to foster an understanding of and appreciation for global uniqueness and differences.
About World Fest
World Fest is a performing arts residency program that tours world music ensembles to communities in the Midwest. For each World Fest season, we partner with one organization in each of the nine states we work in throughout the region, with a focus on rural communities.
Since World Fest’s inception in 2003, we have served more than 650,000 individuals, including 450,000 youth, through more than 280 public performances and 2,300+ educational events.
- Present high-caliber, accessible international artists to small- or mid-sized Midwest communities;
- Provide a multifaceted experience to community residents, particularly young people;
- Integrate the artists and their music into a broader social, cultural, political, and historical framework;
- Encourage young people to explore issues and understand concerns of diverse cultures; and
- Create a lasting musical and cultural impact on participants.
By partnering with one organization in each of our nine states, Arts Midwest will bring international music ensembles to the following cities during our current cycle beginning in 2022:
- Oskaloosa, IA – George Daily Auditorium
- Freeport, IL – Freeport Art Museum
- Sullivan, IN – City of Sullivan, Indiana
- Albion, MI – Bohm Theatre
- Minot, ND – Minot Area Council of the Arts
- Portsmouth, OH – The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
- Custer, SD & Hot Springs, SD – Custer Area Arts Council & Chautauqua Craftsmen & Artisans of the Black Hills
- Marinette, WI – Rusty Wolfe Studio
- Fairmont, MN – Fairmont Opera House
A program of Arts Midwest, the 2024–2025 World Fest artist tours are generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Arts Midwest is also generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, Wisconsin Arts Board, 3M, and individual donors and partners.
2024-25 World Fest Artists
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A Moving Sound
Fusing traditional influences with a global sensibility, award winning ensemble A Moving Sound (Sheng Don聲動) from Taiwan, built a worldwide following through their joyous mix of original music and dance.
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LADAMA
LADAMA is an ensemble of women musicians from across the Americas who strive to engage youth in their respective communities.
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Farah Siraj
Farah Siraj balances a career that spans the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, having performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.
Past World Fest Artists
For nearly two decades, World Fest has brought internationally recognized musicians to the Midwest. These artists hail from Japan, Mexico, Israel, China, Somalia, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, Norway, and many places in between.
World Fest Stories and Updates
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A Rural Opera House Faces its Biggest Challenge Yet
November 4, 2024
Minnesota’s oldest operating theater is racing to raise $4 million to save its historic stage.
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Small Town, Global Stage: Farah Siraj Offers Up Artistic Exchange in Iowa
March 25, 2024
How Jordan’s “Musical Ambassadress” teamed up with Oskaloosa’s local choir for a week of cultural exchange and learning.
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Meet World Fest Artists Farah Siraj, LADAMA, and A Moving Sound
December 19, 2023
Arts Midwest is thrilled to welcome three incredible artists to the Midwest as part of World Fest this year.
Have questions about World Fest?
Want to learn more, or see your community get involved in the next World Fest season? We’re just an email or phone call away.
Email Katie Ortman