Culture figures ask not to cancel WOMAD Festival in Pyatigorsk

Russian figures of culture and pop art and show business stars ask not to cancel the North-Caucasian Festival of Ethnic Music WOMAD.

The project of the British musician Peter Gabriel named "The World of Music, Arts and Dance" was launched in 1982, and since then, it was held annually in England, New Zealand, Australia and Spain. The WOMAD Russia was first held in 2013 in the Stavropol Territory, at the foot of Mashuk Mount. This year's festival was scheduled in Northern Caucasus for September 21-22; however, the Directorate of the Festival decided to cancel the WOMAD Russia-2014 because of the political situation in Ukraine.

A group of Russian figures of culture and arts have asked Peter Gabriel, a musician and public figure and the festival inspirer, not to cancel the WOMAD Russia-2014.

The authors of the appeal have stressed that they cannot deny the organizers' right to have their viewpoint and impose their vision of the situation; however, they find it strange that the decisions that define the date of the festival and affect the peoples' cultural dialogue "are based on personal political estimates."

The signatories ask Peter Gabriel, the founder and inspirer of the festival, "to make a balanced and unbiased assessment of the decision made by the directorate" and seek for a way to cancel it.