The renowned cultural leader Teshome Wondimu, Founder and Executive Director of Selam (Selam International and Selam Ethiopia), has been named a 2026 International Citation of Merit Award recipient by the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), one of the world’s most prestigious honors in the performing arts sector. The award recognizes distinguished service and lifetime achievement that enriches the international arts field, celebrating contributions in areas such as arts management, festival direction, education, consultancy, and cultural advocacy.

Unlike performance-based accolades, the International Citation of Merit honors individuals whose leadership, vision, and long-term commitment have strengthened global cultural collaboration and fostered sustainable arts ecosystems. This year’s awards will be presented at the ISPA 2026 New York Congress: Resilience: A Global Dialogue on January 15, 2026, bringing together arts leaders from around the world to celebrate achievements that shape the future of the international performing arts.

Alongside Wondimu, ISPA traditionally recognizes leaders across other categories, including the Distinguished Artist Award, the Patrick Hayes Award, and the Angel Award. The Distinguished Artist Award celebrates individuals whose talent, dedication, and service have made extraordinary contributions to the global performing arts. The Patrick Hayes Award honors ISPA members at any career stage who demonstrate transformative leadership and innovation in arts management and cultural development. The Angel Award is given to individuals or organizations whose leadership, advocacy, philanthropy, or innovation has made a lasting impact on the performing arts worldwide. Collectively, these awards underscore ISPA’s commitment to fostering a globally connected and sustainable arts community.

Teshome Wondimu’s career reflects decades of leadership in advancing African arts on the global stage. He is the founder of Selam Ethiopia, a non-governmental organization dedicated to using arts and culture as tools for social transformation, community development, and economic empowerment. Through Selam Ethiopia, Wondimu has supported local artists, staged festivals, and facilitated cultural exchange, while Selam International, the organization’s global network, connects African artistic talent with international institutions, festivals, and audiences.

His international engagements include collaborations with Swedish National Concerts, service as a multicultural consultant for the City of Stockholm, and board membership with institutions such as the Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden), Unga Klara, and the jazz venue Fasching. Wondimu’s work spans East and West Africa, Cuba, and Vietnam, focusing on festival production, institutional strengthening, creative industry development, and cultural diplomacy. He is also the initiator of platforms such as PANAF – the Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom, Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA), and Muzikaw, which foster artistic freedom, collaboration, and sustainable arts ecosystems across Africa.

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from ISPA,” Wondimu said. “This award reflects not only my work but also the collective efforts of my colleagues at Selam, and the artists, partners, and communities we collaborate with worldwide. Together, we continue to strengthen global cultural dialogue.”

The International Citation of Merit places Wondimu among a distinguished lineage of global cultural leaders whose work goes beyond performance to shape the international arts landscape. This recognition highlights both his personal achievements and Ethiopia’s growing prominence in the global performing arts sector, emphasizing the impact of visionary leadership in connecting communities, promoting artistic freedom, and amplifying African arts on the world stage.

The ISPA 2026 New York Congress promises to spotlight the achievements of other leaders in the sector while celebrating Wondimu’s milestone, reaffirming the power of dedication, collaboration, and cultural vision in shaping a resilient and inclusive global arts community.

By Demeke Kebede

art and culture

Teshome Wondimu Honored with Prestigious ISPA International Citation of Merit Award