Culture pour tous

INTERCULTURAL ENCOUNTERS 2011

Celebrating Quebec’s diverse arts and culture

(Go to the website)

The Charles Biddle Award highlights the exceptional contribution of an individual who immigrated to Quebec and whose personal or professional engagement is contributing or has contributed to Quebec’s cultural and artistic development on the national or international scene.

The award recognizes the efforts and contribution of an individual who through his or her achievements is a successful role model not only in his or her own field but for Quebec society as a whole.

The award, accompanied by a $2,000 cash prize, will be presented by the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles in partnership with Culture pour tous during Les Journées de la culture in September 2011.

The winner will be selected by a jury composed of personalities from the arts and culture sector and a representative of the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles.

Read the press release (in French).

Charles Biddle (1926-2003)
A great lover of music

Known as “Monsieur Jazz Montréal,” Charlie Biddle was born in 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he lived until age 16. Fleeing racial segregation in the United States, the talented musician moved to Montreal in 1948. Shortly after arriving in Quebec, he was offered a position with the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra and also played bass with the Montreal Orchestral Society at the same time.

His jazz career took off in the early 1950s when he regularly played in Montreal and the regions. In 1957, he met Constance Marchand, who later became his wife and gave him four children. In 1979, he organized a jazz festival considered by many as the precursor of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

A jazz promoter and mentor, Biddle served as an inspiration to all Quebecers with his dedication to helping young artists from all the different communities. He played for Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II and was a frequent performer at international jazz festivals. He received three major honours: the Oscar Peterson Award, the Prix Calixa-Lavallée and the Order of Canada.

Eligibility criteria

Nominees must have immigrated to Quebec, currently live in the province and have spent most of their career here.

Nominations may be submitted by the nominee or another person (the proposer). In the latter case, the nomination must also be signed and authorized by the nominee.

Posthumous nominations are not permitted.

Nominees must work in a field related to the arts and culture and have made an exceptional contribution to Quebec’s cultural and artistic development.

Individuals involved in the fields of media or television production are not eligible for this award since similar awards already exist for these two categories.

Evaluation criteria
Nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria:
• National or international scope of their achievements
• Quality of their achievements and recognition by their peers or the general public
• Impact of their achievements on the cultural field and Quebec society as a whole
• Their serving as a successful role model in the field of arts and culture

Nomination procedure

Nominations will be accepted until July 28, 2011. They must be endorsed by two individuals, businesses or organizations.

The nomination file must include:
• The nomination form
• A summary of the nomination file
• A curriculum vitae and brief biography of the nominee
• Two letters endorsing the nomination

Form: PDF

The complete nomination file must be sent to Culture pour tous by midnight July 28, 2011,
as indicated by the postmark.

Send the documents to:
Ms. Carla Beauvais
Culture pour tous
Charles Biddle Award
4750, avenue Henri-Julien
Montréal (Québec) H2T 2C8

Information: 438 868-5450 or prixcharlesbiddle@culturepourtous.ca

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