The Ashkenaz Festival is the largest Jewish cultural event in Canada, and among the largest events of its kind internationally. The Festival takes place biennially at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre and satellite locations throughout Toronto. Each edition of this multidisciplinary event showcases approximately 50-75 acts from Canada and around the world, including 200+ artists and performers working in music, theatre, dance, film, literature, craft, and visual arts. The Festival draws a diverse, multicultural audience of over 50,000 people.
The first Ashkenaz Festival took place in July 1995, emerging out of a worldwide revival of Klezmer music and Yiddish culture. Ashkenaz quickly became one of the most prestigious events of its kind, making Toronto a key centre in the international Klezmer/Yiddish scene. There were Festival editions in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. The 7th Ashkenaz Festival in August 2008 celebrated the organization’s “Bar Mitzvah” year (13th year). The next Ashkenaz Festival scheduled for August 28-September 3, 2012.
Read more about this topic: Ashkenaz Foundation
Famous quotes containing the word festival:
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the festival of unleavened bread, at the festival of weeks, and at the festival of booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed; all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 16:16,17.