World Music, Inc. was established by Maure Aronson in 1990 to connect performing artists from cultures around the globe with audiences in greater Boston. After a decade of fulfilling that purpose, in 2001 World Music launched CRASHarts, a division of World Music dedicated to the presentation of contemporary performing artists. In 2002, the organization changed its name to World Music/CRASHarts to better reflect its synthesis into a multi-disciplinary performing arts organization. Today World Music/CRASHarts is a premier presenter of contemporary dance, music, and theatre, as well as world music and dance, presenting over 100 performances and related outreach and educational programs annually.
Over the past 15 years World Music/CRASHarts has presented more than 700 concerts, featuring 450 artists (go to Archives). Performers hailing from 70 different countries have brought their unique artistic and cultural expression to stages throughout greater Boston and more than 750,000 people from diverse backgrounds have attended these performances.
World Music/CRASHarts continues to be led by founder Maure Aronson – the current Executive Director. The organization now has a dedicated team of 5 full time staff members and also relies on interns and volunteers to further its mission of reaching the individual and the community through the arts. The organization’s offices remain in Cambridge, Massachusetts and are currently located in Central Square.