Tom Frouge, Founder, Curator, and Director of ¡Globalquerque!
Thursday, September 18th, 2025 4:00 p.m.
Location: Main Library Auditorium
501 Copper NW
(Free parking at garage at SE corner of 5th and Copper)
AIA’s September program will feature Tom Frouge talking about ¡Globalquerque! – New Mexico’s Annual Celebration of World Music and Culture, now celebrating its 20th year. He will discuss the founding of this premier event, its history over the years, the successes, challenges and highlights of creating and sustaining a mission of cross-cultural understanding through music and the arts for over 2 decades, and its continuation in a new political landscape. He will also highlight some of the many performing arts groups from around the world that have traveled to New Mexico to participate in the festival, as well as the educational activities associated with it.
Tom Frouge is the founder, curator and director of ¡Globalquerque, a major world music festival that is ranked a Tier One Destination Event by Visit Albuquerque. He is also Executive Director of Avokado Artists, an arts organization dedicated to cross-cultural understanding through the arts and the cultivation, promotion, presentation and preservation of culturally significant artists and their work from around the globe. Tom has worked in most aspects of the music business (labels, management, promotion and marketing, publishing, record producing, presenting, songwriting). He worked as a senior VP for Putumayo World Music, was co-founder and curator of Festival Eclectica of Angel Fire, served as a booking consultant for the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival in Bloomington, IN, worked for 5 years as Music Liaison for Economic Development for the City of Albuquerque, and has been a consultant for a number of music labels and
organizations.
$15 for AIA Members; $20 for Non-Members; Students under 30 with ID – Free.
Pay online or mail check made out to AIA by September 16th to: AIA, PO Box 92921, Albuquerque, NM 87199.
Reception with Tom Frouge
You’re invited to a special reception following Tom Frouge’s lecture
The Albuquerque International Association invites you to join us for a special opportunity to meet Tom Frouge, founder, curator and director of ¡Globalquerque! at a reception immediately following his lecture on Thursday, September 18. The reception will be held at an AIA member home and hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.
The number of attendees is limited to 30.
This will be a great opportunity to learn more about New Mexico’s Annual Celebration of World Music and Culture in conversation with the Tom. You’ll gain insights into the founding and history of this major world music festival and the challenges faced in continuing to present the festival in the current political environment. If you’re interested in attending, we ask that you sign up here by Wednesday, September 17th . Cost is $30. We will send you the address for the reception once we receive your registration.