PADX England Chronicles
The Mission was Marvelous!
WAA’s Performing Arts Discovery program, or PAD, is on a roll. In addition to the announcement of a new 2024 cohort of PAD Showcase Artists and the opening of the application for 2025, a PADX delegation of 5 performing artists recently returned from a successful trade mission to Manchester, England, where they attended the Worldwide Music Expo (WOMEX), WOMEX 24. PADX is PAD’s export initiative, funded by the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), with a goal to expand international markets and generate overseas touring opportunities for US performing artists.
PADX delegates meet with other WOMEX Academy fellows from British Council and Brazil. Image credit: Christine Semba
How is that goal achieved? Each year, artists and ensembles who are tour-ready and are looking to expand into overseas markets submit applications to join PADX trade missions and attend international market events. In 2024, a delegation attended the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) Congress in Perth, Australia, and this second group traveled to Manchester (UK) for WOMEX, the largest annual expo of world music.
An Action-Packed Trip
For four days, October 23 - 26, PADX delegates networked with international programmers, festival directors, agents and other performing arts professionals, sat in on workshops and professional development sessions, promoted their work at the WAA/PAD booths at the expo trade fair, and rocked the night hours away at showcase performances in multiple performance venues in downtown Manchester.
WOMEX 24, Queen Esther sampling a handmade instrument; image credit: Jesús Muñoz
WAA’s trade show booths featured individual artist panels, meeting space, and materials display. Image credit: Queen Esther (video)
Dining with a view of downtown Manchester – Queen Esther, Josh Heim, Jesus Muñoz and Thea Hopkins. Credit Jesus Muñoz.
Connecting and Exploring
But as they say … “All work and no play …” The artists spent time getting to know each other, exploring local restaurants, and hanging out with other artists and WOMEX fellows from around the globe. According to first-time delegate Staci Griesbach, a jazz singer based in Santa Monica, (CA):
"Thrilled to have met artists and music industry professionals from all around the world at WOMEX 2024. The conference energy was terrific - everyone was eager to meet and see how to help one another. Such a great experience overall!"
Dinner in community; image credit: Jesús Muñoz
From left to right: Joe Cruz (spouse), Queen Esther (artist) Jennifer Grimm (artist), Thea Hopkins (artist), Staci Griesbach (artist), Joshua Heim, and Jesus Muñoz (artist); image credit:
PADX WOMEX Spotify playlist