By Nina Horvath
Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving and unity. It’s a day where we come together to support causes we believe in.
I’ve been with Coastal Jazz for just over two years now as the Executive Director and I’m still just as excited about what we do as when I first applied. For me, Coastal Jazz is unique for the amount of accessible world class music it presents, and the intentional community building and support of local talent it provides.
For over 38 years, Coastal Jazz has been a cornerstone of Vancouver’s cultural and musical landscape, fostering community, inclusivity, and artistic excellence. Each year we welcome approximately 300,000 audience members to over 200 free and ticketed performances of jazz, blues and beyond. But did you know that Coastal Jazz is a nonprofit? We rely on the generous support of individuals like you to continue our mission.
That mission, of course, is in its fullest expression at our annual Jazz Festival, where this year we presented 162 shows over 10 days and 19 venues. Fifty of those shows were free to the public.
We demonstrated our commitment to presenting diverse artists with 51% of shows led by female or non-binary artists and 45% by self-identified IBPOC artists. The overall estimated economic impact of the festival this year was $20 million, a significant driver in the Vancouver arts and culture scene. We supported several successful partnerships with organizations such as Full Circle, Queer Arts, Vancouver New Music, The Western Front, NOW Society, VIFF, Capilano University and the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation.
Our commitment to education continued with the return of the High School Jazz Intensive, where students auditioned for a spot in an afternoon big band show at Performance Works. We welcomed our latest Artist in Residence Pura Fé along with many others who participated in our artist-led workshops at Tom Lee and Western Front.
We rely on the generous support of individuals like you to continue our mission. Would you be willing to donate $10, $25, or even $50 to support our work?
By supporting Coastal Jazz, you’re preserving the cultural jazz legacy of Vancouver, celebrating its artistic diversity, and ensuring that our music scene remains vibrant for generations to come.
