The Foundation

Our work draws a direct connection between the spirit of creativity embodied by Glenn Gould and its resonance to future generations in Canada and around the world.

The Glenn Gould Foundation honours Glenn Gould’s spirit and legacy by promoting creativity and helping to transform lives through the power of music and the arts. We reflect the universal power of the arts to bring diverse people together in a spirit of harmony, compassion, and mutual understanding.

Established in 1983 in Gould’s home town of Toronto, the foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organization. We extend awareness of Glenn Gould as an extraordinary musician, writer, communicator, and thinker, and we expand his ongoing influence through our various projects and programs.

Our signature activity, The Glenn Gould Prize, is one of the world’s premier honours celebrating the arts. The prize advances the social goods and positive impacts exemplified by the work of our laureates. Each prize laureate selects the winner of The Glenn Gould Protégé Prize, a young artist worthy of a wider audience.

Since our founding, we have delivered educational programs and experiences as a force for social advancement to thousands of children, youth, and adults from all walks of life in Glenn Gould’s home community of Ontario, across Canada, and internationally. 

Our work draws a direct connection between the spirit of creativity embodied by Glenn Gould and its resonance to future generations in Canada and around the world.

Site-specific architectural sound and light presentations offered across Ontario, Canada, and international sites, celebrating the art of legendary Abenaki artist, musician, and film-maker Alanis Obomsawin (2021 – 23)

Site-specific architectural sound and light presentations offered across Ontario, Canada, and international sites, celebrating the art of legendary Abenaki artist, musician, and film-maker Alanis Obomsawin (2021 – 23)

Free master-classes, mentorship workshops, and learning supports for young Indigenous artists, and workshops, master-classes, and symposia for diverse communities (2017 – 23).

  • Black Opera Symposium
  • Nathaniel Dett Chorale

Celebrating Jessye Norman: a series of concerts, symposiums, master classes, and educational events exploring Black identity through classical music, and presented as part of Black History Month (2019).

  • Nyla Innuksuk
  • Susak Aglukark

Participating in a symposium session on an arts-based response to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2016).

  • Scene from Leonard Cohen street festival
  • Scene from Leonard Cohen street festival
  • Scene from Leonard Cohen street festival

The Leonard Cohen Street Festival: a street-level festival presenting young Canadian artists to a wider public (2012, 2015).

  • Concert scene

Celebrating Dr. José Antonio Abreu, founder of the world’s most ambitious arts-based social program for young people: producing free concerts, workshops, and symposia for children and youth, inspired by the El Sistema program of free music education for disadvantaged children and youth (2009).