JAZZ.FM91 INTRODUCES A NEW EARLY-CAREER ARTIST COMMUNITY

JAZZ.FM91 On April 30th, otherwise known as International Jazz Day, JAZZ.FM91 announced the launch of the JAZZ.FM91 Alumni Association. This new artist outreach project will provide professional development resources to early-career jazz artists through the help of a $150,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2022. The grant has been used by JAZZ.FM91 to target two key strategic areas: investment in digital redevelopment, and investment in support for early-career artists.

“I'm glad to hear JAZZ.FM91 received the Resilient Communities Fund grant,” said Chris Glover, MPP for Spadina-Fort York. “Employing innovative ways to unite local communities is incredibly effective. Employing a common love for jazz while providing programming to underserved communities and creating an alumni mentorship association is very exciting.”

The new JAZZ.FM91 website was launched in late March while a dedicated networking platform where early-career artists can access information, workshops, and resources will launch by early 2024. JAZZ.FM91 is working closely with early-career artists to identify their needs and develop resources to help them build resilient and sustainable careers. This project reflects JAZZ.FM91’s ongoing commitment to its role as a vibrant partner within the Canadian jazz community.

“Jazz is all of us at our best,” said Dana Wigle, General Manager. “It’s vital that the industry step up to support all of our artists and here at JAZZ.FM91 we believe that in supporting early-career artists we are supporting our country’s future artists and therefore ultimately the resilience and sustainability of both the station and the larger jazz community as a whole. We are deeply grateful to the Trillium Foundation for their support in the realization of this initiative.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209 million into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

About JAZZ.FM91: JAZZ.FM91 is dedicated to entertaining, inspiring and uniting the community through exclusive programming, education and storytelling. As Canada’s only 24/7 all-jazz radio broadcaster and charitable arts organization, we have a responsibility to push for greater equality and diversity.

JAZZ.FM91 believes that jazz is all of us at our best and we strive to make jazz accessible to everyone. Discover music on 91.1 FM, streamed online at jazz.fm or with the free JAZZ.FM91 mobile app.

For more information please contact:

David McTeague, Promotions Manager, JAZZ.FM91 dmcteague@jazz.fm | 416.595.0404 ext 260