The World Sacred Music Festival (WSMF) is a program of Interfaith Works, and was inspired by other interfaith music festivals including those in Fez, Morocco, and Vancouver, Canada. These and other sacred music and arts festivals were inspired by a call by the Dalai Lama for such events as the world approached the new millennium:
"Among the many forms in which the human spirit has tried to ex
press its innermost yearnings and perceptions, music is perhaps the most universal. This is evident in the sacred music of every community... music that expresses the universal yearning that is shared by people all over the globe." The first WSMF was held as a two-day event in 2005, and the festival has grown and changed since that time. You can see photos of past festivals and artists on our website's History pages. The WSMF is a volunteer-run festival with state and federal nonprofit status as a program of Interfaith Works. The festival is a showcase for musicians, dancers, and artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, all part of our world's rich spiritual tapestry. This all-day, family-friendly global celebration is a rare opportunity to hear the music of different sacred traditions in one location. The festival has expanded beyond music to include dance, interactive workshops, and visual arts that represent different spiritual paths. The festival is able to offer such a rich array of performances and displays through the support of festival sponsors, and the generosity of the musicians and artists, most of whom donate their performances, helping the festival to stretch its small budget and present the widest possible array of diversity each year. We hope to see you at the next festival, as a performer, volunteer, or audience member.
