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INTRO/HISTORY
The Ashkenaz Festival is one of the world’s largest
public celebrations of Yiddish and Jewish culture. The Festival
takes place biennially at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre
and satellite locations throughout Toronto. Each edition
of this multidisciplinary event presents approximately 50-75
artists/groups from Canada and around the world working in
music, film, theatre, dance, literature, craft, and visual
arts.
The Ashkenaz Festival was founded in 1995 by David Buchbinder,
Bruce Rosensweet, and Diane Wienrib. Three festivals took
place under the original management team (1995, 1997, 1999).
Three more festivals took place under the artistic direction
of Mitch Smolkin (2002, 2004, 2006), working with such co-producers
as Marc Glassman, Judy Wolfe, and Gordie Wolfe. Past
Board chairs have included founding Chair Rosalie Sharp,
Heather Hoffman, and Judy Wolfe.
Ashkenaz has recently installed the third management team
in its history with Executive Director Karen Tisch and Artistic
Director Eric Stein.
PERFORMER SUBMISSIONS
The 7th Ashkenaz Festival takes place August 26 to September
1, 2008, at Harbourfront Centre and various satellite locations
throughout Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Artist submissions are accepted in music, theatre, dance,
film, literature, visual arts, and children’s/family
programming. Please read our mandate to
be sure that your music or art fits within the boundaries
of our broadly-defined mission statement. To apply to perform
or present work at the Ashkenaz Festival, please send a one-page
bio along with relevant support material (CD, DVD, project
description, work samples, etc) to the address below. Do
not send originals, as submission material will not be
returned.
Artistic Director
Ashkenaz Foundation
455 Spadina Avenue
Suite 303
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2G8 Canada
The number of artists programmed at each festival varies
according to budgetary and artistic considerations. Generally,
the festival programs about 50/50 Canadian/International
artists/acts. Of the Canadian artists, we have a strong commitment
to local Toronto and Ontario artists, but we do attempt to
represent at least 3 other provinces in addition to our own
and we strongly encourage artistic submissions from outside
of Ontario. Of international artists, there is generally
a 50/50 split of US and overseas artists. We have programmed
acts from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America,
and are eager to spread our programming to new countries
and continents we have yet to represent in our 13-year history.
Please be aware that the Festival receives a very large number
of submissions (for a relatively small number of available
programming slots) and we do not have the resources to acknowledge
receipt of your submission or respond to inquiries about
the status of submissions. Please be assured that every submission
is listened to or viewed with care and attention. We
will contact you only if we are able to find a place for
you in the Festival line-up. Artist selection will conclude
in the late winter. If you don't hear back from us by April
2008, please assume that we were unable to include you in
the Festival this time around. We do keep submissions on
file, and many artists who cannot be included in the 2008
festival may nonetheless be considered for future festivals
and our year-round event series.
Some other details and tips:
- We are very open-minded and especially interested
in projects of a cross-cultural nature. We appreciate imaginative
programming proposals and are always looking for unique
artists to present in Toronto.
- Though there are often exceptions, we generally
avoid repeating artists over several years to give other
artists an opportunity and to present a fresh program to
our audience.
- Particularly in the case of international artists,
let us know if there are any special circumstances that would
help us program you more easily – ie. you have a
viable tour set up and travel costs can be offset or shared
by other presenters; you have other means of subsidization
(e.g. travel/touring grant support from an arts council,
foundation, embassy or consulate in your local region);
you have friends/family in Toronto with whom you could
stay during the festival to offset our accommodation costs;
and so forth.
- Put your best foot forward: avoid sending homemade
CD-Rs and amateurish demo kits. First impressions count -
if you are a new artist, “on the verge” perhaps,
but have yet to produce a professional CD and demo kit,
consider holding off submitting to Ashkenaz until you have
developed a professional package of high quality.
- Bulky folders and fancy packaging for your demo kit
is unnecessary – substance is more important than
style. Please minimize waste and make your submissions
as light as possible and easy for us to file.
- Please note that the sequence of programming choices
generally runs from the “outside in” – international
artists are selected in the fall and early winter, while
national artists and local artists will tend to be selected
in the mid- to late-winter and spring.
- Please be aware that unsolicited submissions
account for a relatively small proportion of artists/acts
that end up being programmed at Ashkenaz.
PERFORMING AT ASHKENAZ
In the past, Ashkenaz artists have generally performed once
within the festival programming. In 2008, many artists
will be asked to perform more than once (e.g. mainstage,
secondary stages, workshops, cabarets, dance sessions,
etc). Our hope is to address past problems with programming
conflicts and allow audiences more than one opportunity
to see a particular artist. Unfortunately, this may mean
slightly fewer artists overall will be programmed at the
2008 festival but we are confident that rolling back quantity
will only inject more quality into the Ashkenaz Festival
experience, to the benefit of both artists and audiences.
Ashkenaz artists are also encouraged and expected to participate
in voluntary activities at the festival such as our annual
Ashkenaz Parade. Our festival is very much about community,
and we hope to create a welcoming environment in which artists
and audiences meet, greet, and celebrate together.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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MEDIA INFORMATION
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