Leonard Cohen gives away Glenn Gould Prize money to Canada Council for the Arts
Last night, beloved Canadian singer and songwriter, Leonard Cohen, was presented with the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize and accepted the honour while donating the $50,000 prize to the Canada Council for the Arts.
"The truth is without the help and encouragement of the Canada Council, I would never have written 'The Favourite Game' or 'The Spice Box of Earth,'" he said. "I am profoundly grateful."
See more: Arcade Fire album lands on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Albums'
Over the last week, Toronto has been taken over with events of Cohen fanfare that included an exhibition of his visual art, a film trilogy tribute at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema and public performances of his music in 25 city hotspots.
Each presentation demonstrated why this Montréal-born artist means so much to Canada and reinforced his status as the ninth Prize Laureate of what some have called the "Nobel Prize of the Arts," becoming the third Canadian to do so.
Presented by The Glenn Gould Foundation, the international prize is, "awarded to an individual for a unique lifetime contribution that has enriched the human condition through the arts." In addition, it aims to "promote the vital connection between artistic excellence and the transformation of lives."
See more: Bullied teen invites Taylor Swift to prom
As The Canadian Press reports, Cohen accepted the award wearing his signature black fedora and addressed the audience saying, "Thank you so much ... how very kind of you to greet me with such hospitality," as he was welcomed by a standing ovation.
He also expressed his excitement for the evening's performances, saying, "I'm going to make these remarks mercifully short because I want to hear the music ... if there is any anxiety about performing in front of me, please let it dissolve completely," he said as acts like Toronto's Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor prepared to take the stage.
The 77-year-old also admitted that he "[goes] into bouts of childlike ecstasy ... when [he hears] anyone cover [his] songs."
In addition to the incredible honour and monetary prize, which Cohen graciously donated, the newly appointed Laureate was also given the task of choosing a protégé to share the honour with.
Sistema Toronto, a program offering free and intensive music education to children without discrimination, was chosen by Cohen as the corresponding Protégé Prize recipient and presented with a $15,000 prize that is funded by the city of Toronto.
See more: Cancer patients' Kelly Clarkson video goes viral
Upon hearing of the honour, the program's artistic director David Visentin said, "By awarding the children of Sistema Toronto the collective honour of being named the City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégés, Leonard Cohen is giving much more than a prize. He is instilling hope, awakening dreams and he is challenging talent to reveal itself in the years to come."
Check out a few of the street performances featured below as The Glenn Gould Prize's salute to Leonard Cohen, and view his acceptance speech here.
Follow me on Facebook and Twitter @GraceS35
More Up Beat stories
Legally blind girl wows on Australia's "The Voice"
