PADX Spain Chronicles
Reporting Back from Trade Delegation 1.0
WAA's first ever PADX delegation recently returned from building relationships and developing new opportunities at WOMEX Worldwide Music Expo in A Coruña, Spain — the first of many trade missions WAA will lead to promote U.S. touring internationally.
“Our first international trip through the PADX program was a success, and a significant step for WAA and the PAD program’s goal to remove barriers for U.S. performing artists to break into international touring,” said WAA’s ED, Josh Heim. “The group gained important insights on the landscape of international touring, the differences between the U.S. and European markets, and the challenges those differences present — as well as the opportunities. In addition to building knowledge and relationships, PADX delegates came away from the experience with new collaborations and leads. WAA is grateful to our partners at the U.S. Department of Commerce ITA’s Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP), whose support makes this initiative possible.”
PADX, representing the first formal U.S. delegation to an international conference — hosted a booth in the enormous three-floor exhibit area, with each delegate receiving booth time to take meetings and promote their work. The delegation also took part in pitch sessions.
What else did they get up to? Read on!
Getting Familiar with Local History
By special invitation from the Coruña Council of Culture, the delegation began their trip with a meeting with the city’s Minister of Culture followed by a special tour of the Palacio de María Pita (Palace of Maria Pita) — A Coruña’s municipal building, named for the heroine who defended the city against the 1589 English Armada attack.
Special tour of the Palacio de María Pita; image courtesy Lucero Cortez
Palacio de María Pita
Opening Night
The expo’s opening night, held at the Palacio de la Opera — one of several WOMEX venues — featured a lineup of four performances curated to honor Picasso’s connection to his homeland, Spain, and his lifetime of artistic innovation.
Opening night performance; image credit: Josh Heim
Chizuko Endo, Joshua Heim, Kenny Endo, Lucero Cortez, Janinah Burnett, Antonio Gómez, José Curbelo
Gustatory Delights
The local delicacy of the coastal city of A Coruña is pulpo, or octopus.
Pitch Time
Days three and four provided the delegation the opportunity to pitch their work to international presenters. The 2,300 WOMEX attendees represented over 100 countries.
The delegation gets ready to pitch; clockwise left to right: Lucero Cortez, Antonio Gómez, José Curbelo, Marian Liebowitz, Rahsaan Lucas, Bryan Yamami, Josh Heim
Making Connections
The delegation used their time at WOMEX to build relationships — with each other as well as with new connections.
PADX delegates Dorian Wood and Janinah Burnett make a new friend; image courtesy Janinah Burnett
Farewell dinner; image courtesy Josh Heim
2024 will bring additional opportunities from the PADX program, with international trade missions to Perth, Australia (ISPA) and Manchester, UK (WOMEX — Worldwide Music Expo). Delegations of U.S.-based artists and agents will be selected to receive travel and registration support to attend and expand their reach into these international markets.
Look out for the PADX application launch in January 2024! Join our mailing list to stay in the loop.