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Tag archive: Community Development Program (2)

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Haviah Mighty wins 2019 Polaris Music Prize

Community Development Program participants applaud her performance and album

On September 16, Haviah Mighty won the 2019 Polaris Music Prize for her album, 13th Floor. The Prize recognizes the best Canadian album of the year based on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation, as determined by the Polaris Grand Jury. 

“For me the 13th Floor is something that we remove from our reality because it is something that we don’t understand and therefore we dismiss it,” said Mighty in a Polaris release. “This is very parallel to so many of the experiences that I speak on, on this album. I’m in a room with so many different people from so many different walks of life who have acknowledged that this is something they feel is important. These people don’t necessarily share the narratives that I do or the walks of life that I have, and yet, here we are, finally on what I believe is the 13th Floor. This is the moment of resurgence where the dismissal that has existed is now being removed, and the discussion is being had. I’m so grateful that the people around me push me to be brave enough to speak my truth and to have it be acknowledged in this way.”

The Prize was awarded at the Polaris Prize Gala, held at the historic Carlu in Toronto, which featured performances by nine of the 10 Polaris Short List nominees. The Gala featured performances by Marie Davidson, Elisapie, FET.NAT, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Les Louanges, Haviah Mighty, PUP, Shad and Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Short-lister Jessie Reyez was also in attendance. 

Among the audience attendees were 40 engaged music creators, entrepreneurs and change makers, who took part in the Polaris Community Development Program (CDP), presented by Music Canada. Launched in 2018, the program partners with Canadian not-for-profit music organizations each year to improve equity and representation in the Canadian music industry to support and develop the music community. 

Participating organizations in the 2019 Community Development Program included: 

POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE GALA 2019
Carlu, Toronto. September 16, 2019
Photo by Dustin Rabin

  • Honey Jam
  • The Indigenous Music Alliance
  • The Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance
  • Lula World
  • Manifesto
  • Native Women in the Arts
  • The Remix Project
  • SoundCheck Youth
  • U for Change
  • Urban Arts

Two of the participating organizations had alumni represented on the Polaris Prize Short List.

Jessie Reyez joined The Remix Project program in 2014, and was a graduate of Round 11.0 of the program. 

“I always feel honoured every time I talk about the Remix Project because it’s done so much for me,” said Reyez in 2018, shortly after being nominated for four JUNO Awards. “The program and that formula works — if you go in there and you do what you’re supposed to do and you don’t waste the opportunity.”

Haviah Mighty participated in the Honey Jam showcase in 2011, 2012, and 2015. 

“For those who think they can wing a performance, I learned from Elaine that there is so much more that goes into being a strong performer,” said Mighty in a recent Toronto Star article. “(Professional musicians) understand exactly what they want to look like onstage. Nothing is a whim. My live performance is what garnered the interest of my team, my booking agent, my management.”

Prior to the Gala, participants took part in a brief information session, creating an opportunity for participants to connect with Music Canada and Polaris staff, media, and other community members in a welcoming environment. 

A selection of social media reaction from participants is included below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2jl0h4heYC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2he9vNnG0h/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hTo1HHxZ2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

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Polaris Music Prize and Music Canada partner to improve equity and access for the Canadian music community

September 12, 2018, Toronto: Polaris Music Prize and Music Canada have partnered on a new initiative called the Polaris Community Development Program. Launching in advance of the 2018 Polaris Music Prize Gala, the program will partner with 10 Canadian not-for-profit music organizations each year to support and develop the music community by eliminating barriers to access for engaged music creators, entrepreneurs and change makers.

In 2018, each participating organization will receive tickets to the Polaris Music Prize Gala to distribute to individuals who directly impact or participate in the organization’s music programming, courtesy of Music Canada. The program also includes additional opportunities for participants to connect with Polaris staff, Board members and other community members on the night of the Gala.

“Our objective is to provide aspiring music professionals, who normally lack the means or access to music events, an opportunity to participate in the industry and community that Polaris attracts,” says Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize. “Our hope is that by lifting these barriers we can in a small way help develop diversity in the next generation of music supporters and protectors.”

“Music Canada is committed to challenging the status quo and advancing practical solutions to improve equity and representation in the Canadian music industry,” says Amy Terrill, Executive Vice President of Music Canada and Polaris Board Chair. “Polaris Music Prize, an organization focused on artistic excellence with a history of celebrating diverse sounds and viewpoints, is the perfect host for this program.”

Participating organizations in the 2018 Community Development Program can be found at polarismusicprize.ca/sponsors.

The 2018 Polaris Music Prize Gala takes place on Monday, September 17th at The Carlu in Toronto. Canadian non-profits interested in participating in the 2019 Community Development Program are encouraged to contact Claire Dagenais at claire.dagenais@polarismusicprize.ca.

 

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For more information:
Amanda McCauley – Indoor Recess
amanda@indoorrecess.com 
(905) 926-6440

Corey Poole, Music Canada
cpoole@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

 

About Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics then judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity. For more on the Polaris Music Prize, please visit www.polarismusicprize.ca

About the 2018 Polaris Music Prize Gala
The Polaris Music Prize Gala is produced by CBC Music. This year’s gala is set to take place on Monday, September 17th, 2018 at The Carlu, 444 Yonge Street, 7th Floor. The gala will be webcast live worldwide on CBC Music’s Facebook and YouTube. This year’s host is CBC’s Raina Douris.

About Music Canada
Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster. For more on Music Canada, please visit www.musiccanada.com

 

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Le Prix de musique Polaris et Music Canada se donnent la main pour améliorer l’équité et faciliter l’accès à la communauté musicale au Canada

 

Toronto, le 12 septembre 2018 : Le Prix de musique Polaris et Music Canada collaborent à une nouvelle initiative conjointe nommée Programme de développement communautaire Polaris. Lancé avant le gala du Prix de musique Polaris, ce programme s’associera chaque année avec 10 organisations musicales à but non lucratif afin de contribuer au développement de la communauté musicale en éliminant les obstacles qui empêchent les créateurs de musique engagés, les entrepreneurs et les catalyseurs de changement de s’y joindre.

En 2018, Music Canada offrira aux organisations participantes des billets pour le gala du Prix de musique Polaris qu’elles pourront distribuer gratuitement à des personnes qui ont un impact direct sur la programmation du Prix de musique Polaris ou y participent. Le programme fournira également aux participants d’autres occasions d’interagir avec le personnel du Prix de musique Polaris, avec ses administrateurs et avec d’autres membres de la communauté musicale le soir du gala.

« Notre objectif est d’offrir aux jeunes professionnels de la musique qui n’ont pas les moyens ou la possibilité d’assister aux événements musicaux une occasion de se mêler aux représentants de l’industrie et de la communauté musicale que le Prix Polaris attire », a affirmé Steve Jordan, fondateur et directeur exécutif du Prix de musique Polaris. « Notre espoir est que, en éliminant les obstacles, nous puissions contribuer un tant soit peu au développement de la diversité au sein de la prochaine génération des partisans et des protecteurs de la musique. »

« Music Canada est engagée à changer les choses et à avancer des solutions pratiques afin d’améliorer l’équité et la représentation au sein de l’industrie de la musique au Canada », a affirmé Amy Terrill, vice-présidente directrice de Music Canada et présidente du conseil d’administration du Prix de musique Polaris. « Le Prix de musique Polaris, une organisation axée sur l’excellence et habituée à célébrer la diversité des sons et des points de vue, est l’endroit idéal pour ce programme. »

On trouvera la liste des organisations qui participent au Programme de développement communautaire 2018 au polarismusicprize.ca/sponsors.

Le gala du Prix de musique Polaris 2018 aura lieu le 17 septembre au Carlu, à Toronto. Les organismes à but non lucratif canadiens intéressés à participer au Programme de développement communautaire 2019 sont encouragés à contacter Claire Dagenais au claire.dagenais@polarismusicprize.ca.

 

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Pour de plus amples renseignements :
Amanda McCauley – Indoor Recess
amanda@indoorrecess.com
(905) 926-6440

Corey Poole, Music Canada
cpoole@musiccanada.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

 

À propos du Prix de musique Polaris
Le Prix de musique Polaris est une organisation à but non lucratif qui honore et récompense annuellement les artistes ayant créé des albums de musique canadiens de renom. Un groupe sélectionné de critiques musicaux juge et décerne le Prix sans considération pour le genre musical ou la popularité commerciale. Pour en savoir plus sur le Prix de musique Polaris, veuillez vous rendre sur www.polarismusicprize.ca

À propos du gala du Prix de musique Polaris 2018
Le gala du Prix de musique Polaris est une réalisation de CBC Music. L’édition 2018  sera présentée le 17 septembre au Carlu, 444, rue Yonge, 7e étage, à Toronto. Le gala sera diffusé en direct à travers le monde via la page Facebook de CBC Music ainsi que sur YouTube. Il sera animé par Raina Douris, de CBC.

 À propos de Music Canada
Music Canada est une association professionnelle à but non lucratif qui représente les grandes maisons de disques au Canada, notamment Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada et Warner Music Canada.  Music Canada collabore également avec de nombreux chefs de file de l’industrie musicale indépendante – étiquettes et distributeurs de disques, studios d’enregistrement, lieux de spectacles, promoteurs de concerts, gérants et artistes – pour assurer la promotion et le développement du secteur de la musique.

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