Peter Gabriel helped found WOMAD in 1982 for world music and arts.
WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance. Gabriel and a group of collaborators created the festival to present music and artistic traditions from around the world to broad international audiences.
The first WOMAD festival took place in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England, in July 1982. Although the event was artistically ambitious, its financial performance was difficult. A collaboration with the musicians of Genesis helped prevent the organization from collapsing, and WOMAD later developed into an international festival network.
WOMAD is not simply a Peter Gabriel concert series. Gabriel was a founding figure, but the festival has always presented many artists and cultural forms. Its programming has included music, dance, workshops, visual arts, and traditions from numerous countries.