THE POWER OF MUSIC to bring people together during times of conflict is more important than ever. globalFEST started following the dark days between 9/11 and the start of the Iraq war. Now in its 21st year, as the world faces new conflicts and the horrors of war are all around us, we remain devoted to encouraging cultural awareness and musical discovery as an act of bridge-building, resistance, and resilience.
Who We Are
globalFEST is a dynamic non-profit service organization for curators, artists, the public and the performing arts field whose acclaimed festival/showcase each January during the APAP Conference and JanArtsNYC.
As an organization, globalFEST is renowned as a catalytic networking platform that serves to engage the arts world in cultural diplomacy to deepen cross cultural understanding; to build audiences for international music, and for creating opportunities for artists leading to a more robust and sustainable ecosystem for music from around the world and around the corner in the United States.
As a festival, globalFEST acts as a musical beacon, bridging cultural divides and bringing audiences together through the universal language of music. The beloved curation has proven influential to arts organizations and venues across the country and jump started the US touring careers of outstanding artists like Angelique Kidjo, DakhaBrakha, Jupiter and Okwess, Martha Redbone, Rhiannon Giddens, A Tribe Called Red, and so many more.
globalFEST 2024
globalFEST's 21st festival returns to Lincoln Center and will again take over their signature venue David Geffen Hall, creating three stages to explore the world's best music on Sunday, January 14, 2024. globalFEST sells out in advance each year. Donating to our Indiegogo campaign is the best way to secure your ticket, and to show your love for global musical discovery.
Artists who have performed at globalFEST events have gone on to perform at some of the most important performing arts centers, festivals and clubs in the world. As they tour, they bring their own cultural perspectives to communities across the US, Canada, and all over the world at a time where creating opportunities for cultural exchange and diverse perspectives is more important than ever.
What We Do
Since its first event in 2003, globalFEST has showcased more than 200 artists and groups from 70 countries including regional American music, and always to sold-out audiences. The festival has grown into a catalytic non-profit organization that serves an intersectional array of global artists, the larger performing arts field, and the public. Recognizing that artists are often advocates and ambassadors, globalFEST has also become a platform for those whose homelands were under duress, from Gulf artists post-Katrina to Haitian artists after the 2010 earthquake to Muslim artists amidst Trump’s “Muslim Ban.” Additionally, the festival has centered gender equity as a goal and made LGBTQ+ voices a programming priority.
Why Contribute?
Your contribution directly supports our work to push international and regional American music into the center of the performing arts field and to help artists develop sustainable careers, to bring global music across the country, break down barriers, and to encourage cultural understanding through music all at a time where creating opportunities for cultural exchange and diverse perspectives is more important than ever.
Your donation gives you access to numerous programs and events, including programming around the Festival. As our only annual fundraiser, your support via Indiegogo plays a crucial role in our success.
20+ Years of Artist Advocacy
Music can be a driving force toward a society that values cultural diversity as a source of unity rather than division. We pursue this by moving global music – from traditional to contemporary and the hybrids in between – to the center of the cultural conversation and the center of the performing arts field. By strengthening opportunities for artists to reach broader audiences, it also facilitates a more inclusive cultural sector and a healthier society where diverse voices are heard. This creates more equitable economic opportunities for artists and reaffirms the cultural imperative to maintain an industry that supports culturally specific music from every continent, every year.
globalFEST’s programs catalyze creative and artistic networks to foster a robust and sustainable ecosystem for global and American regional music through festivals and events, a conferences, touring, and media – an ecosystem which includes artists, arts professionals, media, and the general public.
What you get back when you give
Ticket sales cover only a fraction of what it costs to produce the event, and worldwide fan support is critical to the artists and to globalFEST! Campaign funds help globalFEST cover ever-increasing costs and allows us to keep our ticket price low, encouraging audiences to take a chance on new and revelatory artists. Your contributions are more important than ever in our ability to make the event happen.
Every contribution to this campaign comes with a perk, such as: social media shout outs, the Official globalFEST 2024 Playlist, and early access to tickets.
The more you give, the better it gets – check out the $250 globalFEST Advocate Level and up benefits for extra special perks, VIP access, and exclusive globalFEST merch.
Your Support
The support of colleagues, forward-thinking funders, and engaged fans, have helped us become an internationally recognized, agile, and responsive organization. globalFEST invests its limited resources and leverages partnerships strategically in tireless pursuit of our mission to serve artists, the performing arts field, and the general public.
Your donation ensures this year’s festival maintains its standard of excellence – the stellar reputation of globalFEST over the last two decades has supported the careers of hundreds of musicians that we've presented. While Lincoln Center is our generous host, our expenses remain very high and only a fraction of our costs are covered.
As globalFEST continues to promote cultural understanding and exchange through music, the importance of our annual crowdfunding campaign has grown. We thank you for your past and present generosity – we know that for many of you, your donation to globalFEST is a gift from one friend to another. Support from this campaign goes directly to globalFEST programs that support artists.
THANK YOU for supporting our work! None of this is possible without you.
Shanta Thake, Isabel Soffer, and Bill Bragin
Co-Directors
---
Find out about all the work we do at www.globalfest.org.