Citing a shifting political landscape, Globalquerque! takes its 'final orbit'

An event that brings international artists to Albuquerque is celebrating its 20th year — and its last.

Globalquerque! founder Tom Frouge cited a lack of desire from bands to come to the United States combined with visa rules that make international travel to the U.S. more difficult and less financial support from governments as reasons that this will be the event’s final year.

At its height, Globalquerque! was a three-day festival held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, but has had to downsize in recent years.

“Our budget was so severely slashed on every level — federal, state, municipal — that our 20th year is only going to be one day,” Frouge said.

This year, the event, titled “Globalquerque! The Final Orbit,” will be held Sept. 20 at Civic Plaza. It’s free to attend.

Among the artists set to perform are Bia Ferreira, Tarwa N-Tiniri, Yeison Landero, Cheikh Ibra Fam and The Mirabal Sisters.

Frouge said one of the grants that Globalquerque! lost was the Performing Arts Global Exchange grant, administered by Mid Atlantic Arts. Globalquerque! used the grant to fund travel for international artists.

Mid Atlantic Arts got funding for the grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, but NEA funding was gutted in May when President Donald Trump ordered a sweeping overhaul of federal cultural agencies.

Frouge did not offer specifics on funding lost at the state and municipal levels.

When asked, the city did not comment on possible funding cuts to Globalquerque! but did speak to the event’s relevance.

“Globalquerque! leaves a legacy for Albuquerque. It elevated our city’s cultural landscape, was great for the live music scene, and welcomed the community to experience world music,” said Shelle Sanchez, director of the city’s arts and culture department. “Arts and Culture was happy to provide additional resources for its move downtown and to celebrate a festival that consistently delivered on many levels.”

Aside from the funding cuts, Frouge said a shifting political landscape is affecting the event. Among those shifts is the federal government making travel to the United States more difficult.

On Sept. 6, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs changed visa application rules, stating that non-immigrant visa appointments should be made at the U.S. consulate or embassy in the country of residence.

“The U.S. government, which has always had an awful visa policy, has made it even more difficult,” Frouge said. “Rules just came out in the past couple of weeks that artists had to apply for their visas in their country of residence, which has not always been the case.”

At least one band that had been lined up for Saturday had to cancel because they couldn’t get a visa appointment, Frouge said.

Frouge wants to see the community come out for this last Globalquerque!

“I would love to see people come out and support these international bands and, by extension, support immigrant rights and LGBTQ rights…,” Frouge said. “And show people that we can all recognize our similarities while we explore and perhaps celebrate our differences.”

Frouge said that he and his team will still be hosting events around the city.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished to have an internationally known festival launched in New Mexico,” Frouge said, “and have international attention and interviews and articles written about us around the world, not just locally.”

For more information, visit globalquerque.org.