This article presents the preparation, intentions, realisation and effects of ISTA 9 and Festival Crossroad Umeå, Sweden, in dates 2-21 May 1995. Chris Torch, who organised the ISTA session with Sven Sahlström, here discusses questions of multiculturalism and interculturalism in countries that have been radically changed by immigration; what is to be considered ‘exotic’ and ‘original’ in realties in continuous transformation.