ICAP presented the latest iteration of its exhibition “Artists as Peacemakers” at Stravinski Auditorium, a major venue at the 49th Montreux Jazz Festival. On display July 3–18, this year’s version of the exhibit once again highlighted ICAP’s 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 ICAP’s message of peace. And the signature feature of the exhibit, the statements of some of the world’s 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 “Humanity in the Arts” peace award.
The exhibition’s featured artists and personal statements include the following:
- Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Ambassador: “I think there’s a great beauty to having problems. That’s one of the ways we can learn.”
- Carlos Santana, guitarist: “Now more than ever, our total commitment to spiritual and divine principles is needed. We are the healers of life.”
- Sade, Nigerian-born singer-songwriter, composer and record producer: “These eyes, they are the witnesses / they need no other reasons to cry / and now that they are a river / they will never run dry.”
- Quincy Jones, musician and producer: “Imagine 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.”
- Angélique Kidjo, singer and UNICEF Ambassador from Benin: “Music is really the thread of the memory of humankind.”
- Youssou N’Dour, singer: “My music is an expression of gratitude, of respect, of reverence — for life, for love, for the dignity of people, for the wonder of the human predicament.”
- Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer known as the “First Lady of Song”: “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
- Nina Simone, singer: “I’m a real rebel with a cause . . . the direct equality of my people around the world.”
- Wayne Shorter, musician and composer: “If you’re in a higher condition and you’re performing, something transcends the music and reaches to the inside of someone else. It triggers a well of wisdom.”