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Jason van Eyk, Dr. Sharon Azrieli and Kelly Rice at the launch of AMACC.

AMACC to Act as Catalyst for Change

The pandemic taught us many things. One that stood out was the importance of gathering to enjoy the arts.   

Now that theatres and art galleries have reopened their doors, there is renewed support and admiration for the pivotal role of music, theatre and visual art in our communities. And the timing couldn’t be better for the new Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre (AMACC).  

“We want to help create a brighter future for arts and culture in Canada,” says Sharon Azrieli, Chair of AMACC’s Advisory Council. “And we’re already on our way to doing so.” 

AMACC will give the Azrieli Foundation greater capacity to support the full continuum of Canadian arts activities – from improving community access to arts education to building resiliency among arts organizations. The centre will also nurture networks and help shape emerging ideas into meaningful initiatives. 

“In just eight years, music, arts and culture have become a much more significant part of the Foundation’s portfolio,” says Jason van Eyk, Manager of Music, Arts and Culture at the Azrieli Foundation. “As a result, the Foundation has decided to create this more robust framework to guide its work.” 

Some of AMACC’s activities are already underway. For example, the Foundation was instrumental in creating the Sistema Canada Network for music education and plays a vital role in the North America–wide CANVAS network of Jewish arts and culture funders. 

Sharon says AMACC will enable crucial long-term planning. Since 2014, the Foundation’s arts grants have more than tripled, and the grantee base has quadrupled. In tandem, the Azrieli Music Prizes, one of the world’s most substantial competitions for music composition, has more than doubled in size. 

Says Sharon: “I look forward to helping build a strong and sustainable base of support for the arts in Canada.”

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