Success for WOMEX 2005 at The Sage Gateshead.

The Sage Gateshead has successfully delivered The North East’s biggest music congress of 2005; the globe’s largest World Music Expo, WOMEX.

Over 2,000 delegates from across 90 countries and more than 1,000 members of the public visiting WOMEX Showcases, enjoyed a rousing mix of international music including over 50 Showcase performances, numerous conference sessions, film screenings and a Trade Fair with over 200 exhibitors. WOMEX 2005 is one of the year’s two biggest congresses in Gateshead generating an estimated £2.5m for the region’s economy; the other was the Labour Party Spring Conference, again hosted at The Sage Gateshead.

Stage Electrics’ Ed Gamble worked closely with Dan Adams, Production Manager for the event to provide a host of showcase equipment to complement the event, which included products from Martin Professional.

Fixtures used were MAC 700s, MAC 2000 Profiles, MAC 250+s, MAC 300s, MAC 600s and Atomic Strobes.

Anthony Sargent General Director of The Sage Gateshead comments; “The warmly enthusiastic response from delegates, artists, the WOMEX team and our own local audience has confirmed WOMEX 2005 as a really triumphant success. Working with our partners in Gateshead Council, Arts Council England, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and One NorthEast, we really have now established The Sage Gateshead and NewcastleGateshead as a top international destination for these exciting major events”.

The Sage Gateshead is an international home for music and musical discovery in the Northeast of England, with local roots, a world-wide reputation, a global programme and a fully inclusive welcome to all its users and to all musical styles and languages. Opened on 17 December 2004 it was designed by Lord Foster’s architectural practise – his first building for the performing arts.