Violins of Hope Artist in Residence
Studio Bell
Deadline to apply: April 17, 2024
National Music Centre’s self-directed Artist in Residence program is designed to nurture artistry and innovation by providing musicians with the tools, time and space, and the use of our one-of-a-kind collection and expertise to create new works in a world-class facility.
The National Music Centre (NMC) has welcomed many exceptional artists to play, experiment, and record with its collection. Past alums of NMC’s artist residency program include singer-songwriter Shawnee Kish, indie alt-pop musician Rich Aucoin, R&B/hip-hop artist Jhyve, lo-fi soul duo Sargeant X Comrade, flutist and composer Jiajia Li, pop-rockers MAJOR LOVE, R&B/soul singer Tanika Charles, psych-rock trio nêhiyawak, classically-trained vocalist and composer Jeremy Dutcher, DJ-producer duo A Tribe Called Red, neo-classical pianist Jean-Michel Blais, guitar slinger Luke Doucet, singer-songwriter Basia Bulat, virtuosic scratch DJ and music producer Kid Koala, and many others.
Violins of Hope Artist in Residence
The National Music Centre, in partnership with the Calgary Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary, will host the Violins of Hope exhibition at Studio Bell from May 3 to June 16, 2024.
Violins of Hope is a poignant collection of string instruments dating from before and during the Holocaust. These meticulously restored instruments once belonged to victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Today these instruments stand as enduring symbols, serving to educate and memorialize those affected by one of history’s darkest chapters through concerts, exhibitions, and other commemorative projects.
Originating from Tel-Aviv, Israel, the collection is owned and curated by violin maker Avshi Weinstein and his late father, Amnon. The instruments were donated or purchased from survivors and descendants or recovered from remnants of ghettos and concentration camps. Each instrument stands as a monument to survivors and victims and serves as a reminder of the hope that music can bring even in the darkest moments.
Learn More About Violins of Hope
One artist/artist group, selected by an internal jury of NMC staff and professionals, will be awarded a rare opportunity to record with portions of the Violins of Hope instrument collection in Calgary, Alberta. The recording residency will take place in June 2024 over five days at Studio Bell. NMC’s Artist in Residence program is designed to feed and nurture artistic creativity and technical innovation by providing artists with uninterrupted time and space, and the use of our unique collection and expertise, to create new and innovative works in a supportive, world-class facility.
For full details and to apply visit Violins of Hope Artist in Residence | NMC | Studio Bell.
Applications for Violins of Hope Artist in Residence are now open. The deadline to apply is midnight (MT) on April 17, 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the application, please email programs@nmc.ca.