ICAP presented the latest iteration of its exhibition âArtists as Peacemakersâ at Stravinski Auditorium, a major venue at the 49th Montreux Jazz Festival. On display July 3â18, this yearâs version of the exhibit once again highlighted ICAPâs core value, establishing a peaceful world through the power of the arts. Each year, the ICAP exhibits at the MJF expand the worldwide audience for ICAPâs message of peace. And the signature feature of the exhibit, the statements of some of the worldâs greatest music artists, suggests to concertgoers that the creation of peace may just be the most important art of all.
Today, the renowned Montreux festival is the second largest jazz festival in the world, attracting an audience of more than 200,000 people each year.
ICAP has been presenting annual exhibitions at the MJF since 2004, when it formed a major partnership with the Festival. In addition to the exhibitions, ICAP has sponsored many workshops at the Festival on themes related to peace and culture, and it continues to bestow worthy individuals with its âHumanity in the Artsâ peace award.
The exhibitionâs featured artists and personal statements include the following:
- Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Ambassador: âI think thereâs a great beauty to having problems. Thatâs one of the ways we can learn.â
- Carlos Santana, guitarist: âNow more than ever, our total commitment to spiritual and divine principles is needed. We are the healers of life.â
- Sade, Nigerian-born singer-songwriter, composer and record producer: âThese eyes, they are the witnesses / they need no other reasons to cry / and now that they are a river / they will never run dry.â
- Quincy Jones, musician and producer: âImagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he (or she) is good at doing.â
- Angélique Kidjo, singer and UNICEF Ambassador from Benin: âMusic is really the thread of the memory of humankind.â
- Youssou NâDour, singer: âMy music is an expression of gratitude, of respect, of reverence â for life, for love, for the dignity of people, for the wonder of the human predicament.â
- Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer known as the âFirst Lady of Songâ: âJust donât give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I donât think you can go wrong.â
- Nina Simone, singer: âIâm a real rebel with a cause . . . the direct equality of my people around the world.â
- Wayne Shorter, musician and composer: âIf youâre in a higher condition and youâre performing, something transcends the music and reaches to the inside of someone else. It triggers a well of wisdom.â