There is a saying that “art is food for the soul.” And from all the recent initiatives and events coming out of the music, arts and culture portfolio at the Azrieli Foundation, this couldn’t ring more true.
One of the most recent initiatives is the new Azrieli Music Arts and Culture Centre (AMACC), which launched this past September.
AMACC will act as a catalyst, key funder and strategic partner in creating a resilient, impactful and connected arts sector. It will deepen the Foundation’s work of discovering, elevating and amplifying creative voices. It will also support arts engagement for all Canadians, from accessing quality arts education to enjoying the arts as a vehicle for improved health and well-being.
“AMACC is our long-awaited umbrella strategy for the arts. It will unite grant-making, sector collaborations and long-range initiatives. Programs, such as the Azrieli Music Prizes and others still to be imagined, will fall under the AMACC umbrella. Together, they will allow us to create a huge impact. Through AMACC, we will ensure more Canadians of all ages enjoy a deeper relationship with the arts,” says Dr. Sharon Azrieli, CQ, Chair of the AMACC Advisory Council.
The time was ripe for such a bold transformation. Since 2014, the Foundation’s music, arts, and culture support has grown exponentially. The Azrieli Foundation has also grown its Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) into Canada’s largest competition of its kind. The Prizes offer opportunities for creating, performing and celebrating excellence in music composition.
AMACC is currently gearing up for the 10th anniversary of AMP. On November 2, 2023, the new 2024 Laureates were announced. For this round, the Prizes sought scores and proposals for choral works – including up to four additional instruments and/or soloists – across four prize categories.
The 2024 winning composers are Yair Klartag for the Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music; Joseph Bardanashvili for the Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music; Jordan Nobles for the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music; and Juan Trigos for the inaugural Azrieli Commission for International Music.
These laureates will receive the premieres of their outstanding compositions at the AMP Gala Concert on October 28, 2024.
(Banner photo: Danylo Bobyk)