Vision: Joy... Inspiration... Renewal... Harmony

Recognizing music as an expression of humanity's most profound aspirations and as a way to transcend borders of all kinds - linguistic, national, cultural, ideological, racial and religious, the 2008 World Festival of Sacred Music is the result of an outpouring of interest and enthusiasm from community partners and artists who participated in the Festival in 1999, 2002 and 2005.

The World Festival of Sacred Music is founded on the belief that sacred music has the ability to bring forth our shared human values of peace, understanding, and respect for all living things. The Festival is not a commercial venture, nor does it promote or endorse any political or religious agenda. Offering an alternative, community-oriented model to the corporate values that dominate the entertainment culture of Los Angeles, the Festival provides opportunities for people to come together and investigate issues of tolerance and diversity within our complex, urban environment.

Goals

• Inclusion of diverse approaches to sacred music and dance
• Programs that would not otherwise be presented to the public
• Programs that combine more than one aesthetic or cultural approach
• Venues that are unfamiliar to the public
• 40 events across the city
• Events evenly spread over 16 days
• Economically viable that is in keeping with needs of artists and venues
• Build connections across faith based, cultural and aesthetic differences
• Provide opportunities to collaborate and share resources with others
• Present the arts within a non-commercial non-corporate sponsored context
• Deepen public awareness of the vibrant diversity of Los Angeles