To our World Beat community,

We are sad to announce the cancellation of the 2020 World Beat Festival due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdown periods being extended throughout the state, performers unable to gather to rehearse, many organizations already cancelling large events in the summer, and the general sense of uncertainty, the board of directors of the Salem Multicultural Institute made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s festival. 

A healthy and safe community remains paramount to the mission of World Beat, and we urge everyone to refer to the Oregon Coronavirus Information & Resources website for updates on the pandemic situation.

Our mission: to encourage and promote intercultural understanding, is especially relevant now as we draw inward by necessity. While our gallery space is closed during this time, we will be posting more content on our Facebook and Instagram pages in connection with the current exhibition “Windows to Japan: A Glimpse of Japanese Culture.”

Once the pandemic has passed us by, you can expect to see the Salem Multicultural Institute/ World Beat return to our regular set of programming with enthusiasm and renewed vigor. 

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