{"id":11575,"date":"2021-03-22T11:39:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T15:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/acousticmusicscene.com\/?p=11575"},"modified":"2021-03-22T11:39:28","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T15:39:28","slug":"ibma-world-of-bluegrass-2021-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acousticmusicscene.com\/2021\/03\/22\/ibma-world-of-bluegrass-2021-update\/","title":{"rendered":"IBMA World of Bluegrass 2021 Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and its partners on the City of Raleigh\u2019s local organizing committee have expressed cautious optimism that they will be able to hold a hybrid IBMA World of Bluegrass this fall (Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2021) with a meaningful and safe in-person component in North Carolina\u2019s capital city, as well as online content. <\/p>\n

\"IBMAConsidered the genre\u2019s annual industry gathering and family reunion., IBMA\u2019s annual World of Bluegrass week has taken place in Raleigh since 2013. It generally features a wide array of professional development seminars, meetings and forums; sponsored artist showcases and late-night hospitality functions; plenty of networking and relationship-building opportunities; the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, and the Wide Open Bluegrass festival \u2013 a two-day event that includes more than 100 free live musical performances on eight stages plus a dance tent, along with arts & crafts and food vendors galore. According to the IBMA, 2019\u2019s World of Bluegrass and Wide Open Bluegrass festival collectively drew more than 218,000 attendees.<\/p>\n

Concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the trade and professional association for the global bluegrass community to shift to online presentation of its professional development seminars, artist showcases and awards last fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve heard from many of our members in the past few months, and we share the strong desire to gather in person in Raleigh this year; we wish it were a straightforward decision based on that alone,\u201d said Paul Schiminger, IBMA\u2019s executive director. \u201cWe remain optimistic but also have to consider CDC, state, and local guidelines to hold an event like ours. We have a strong partnership with the City of Raleigh, and they want to hold the event every bit as much as we do since it benefits both of our communities enormously.\u201d <\/p>\n

In an e-newsletter distributed March 19, the IBMA acknowledged: \u201cWhile progress is being made with vaccinations and the number of new cases continues to decline, it is still too early to confirm the extent of in-person events. We continue to monitor CDC, state, and local guidelines and recommendations while modeling a variety of scenarios that will best create a safe, worthwhile, and fun IBMA World of Bluegrass experience for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with peers from other music organizations, Schiminger took part in a panel discussion on \u2018Steering the Ship: New Horizons\u2019 during last month\u2019s Folk Unlocked virtual Folk Alliance International Conference. He reflected on the actions that IBMA felt compelled to take last year in light of the pandemic. \u201cIn April,… We held onto the hope that things could open back up in September,\u201d he acknowledged. “By May-June, we came to the realization that we came to the realization that we could not hold the event live, but our community needed it somehow … Just like other organizations, we had to figure it out. Our community was just starved for music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling the need to continue to serve both its community and its mission amid financial uncertainties and not sure if folks would dial-in virtually and embrace it, IBMA pivoted towards a multi-day virtual event featuring a mix of pre-recorded and live content last September. <\/p>\n

\"IBMAAlthough not yet certain to what extent this year\u2019s hybrid model may include live, in-person elements as well, and what capacity limits might be at that time, IBMA plans to announce plans for the events later this spring and to open ticket sales and hotel blocks on June 1. The organization has already revealed some upcoming application dates. These include: Official IBMA Artist Showcase (April 5-April 30), IBMA Songwriter Showcase (May 3-28), IBMA Business Conference Call for Proposals (May 3-28), IBMA Bluegrass Live! Street Stages, Youth Stage, University Ensemble Showcase (June 7-30), and Kids on Bluegrass (June 7-June 30).<\/p>\n

IBMA (https:\/\/ibma.org<\/a>) seeks to facilitate the growth and development of the bluegrass community \u2013 for professionals and enthusiasts who share a passion for the music. More information about IBMA\u2019s World of Bluegrass will be posted on AcousticMusicScene.com as it becomes available and may also be found on https:\/\/WorldofBluegrass.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and its partners on the City of Raleigh\u2019s local organizing committee have expressed cautious optimism that they will be able to hold a hybrid IBMA World of Bluegrass this fall (Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2021) with a meaningful and safe in-person component in North Carolina\u2019s capital city, as well as online content. 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