New York City, USA - The Cultural Services of the French Embassy to the U.S., the French Music Export Office, and the AFAA are sponsoring globalFEST, a January 8 combination festival and showcase in New York City of world music artists.

While French cafe exponent Paris Combo is the most obvious French import featured at the event, Emmanuel Morlet, director of music at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, points out, "People in America are starting to realize the diversity of music and cultures that are central to the overall music scene in France. Rokia Traore, Lokua Kanza, and Mory Kanté and hundreds of other high quality world music artists have very successful careers in France.

"They are Francophone and they often live in France, tour France regularly, are produced by French labels, and launch to other international stages from France. France is not the cliché that many people have in their mind, it is a country of diversity and cultural dialogue."

The French agencies in New York use a very savvy model which leverages government money to raise additional support from foundations, businesses, and other private sources; both in America and in France. "The world needs to be a lot more tolerant and open minded these days. It is clear," says Morlet. "But we would not help promote this diversity of artists if it wasn't for the exceptional quality of these musicians. Yes, we would be very happy to try to export more French chanson, but without understanding the lyrics, that is harder for American audiences to enjoy. And we work directly with presenters and other industry professionals in America, and a lot of them want to present world music."