The Mayor has proclaimed March 25, 2012, as Tom Cone Day in Vancouver in honour of the distinguished playwright, collaborator and philanthropist who received the first Mayor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement last week. The honour will mark Mr. Cone’s upcoming 65th birthday on March 25.
“Tom’s influence has inspired innumerable local and national artists in their creation and exhibition of new works of theatre, visual art, experimental music, and literature,” said Mayor Robertson in making the announcement. “He has worked tirelessly to lead and strengthen Vancouver’s arts and cultural community and to encourage dialogue about the arts and public life.”
Born in Miami, Florida, Tom chose Vancouver as the home from which he launched a decades-long career as a playwright, librettist, teacher, and impresario, beginning with the 1972 CBC Radio Drama production of his play There. This was followed by a string of plays that put Tom Cone and Vancouver on the theatrical map: Cubistique (1974); Herringbone (1975); Whisper To Mendelsohn (1975); The Imaginary Invalid (1975), Beautiful Tigers (1976); Shotglass (1977); Stargazing (1978); 1792 (1978); and The Writer’s Show (1978).
His work has often presented provocative ideas about morality and art, stretching existing forms through the integration of music and the visual arts. Critics have described characters in many of his plays as “riding a fault line, about to make a change which may result in tragedy”, and sharing an “evocative, somewhat taboo recollection of their common past.”
Believing that artists and audiences could be brought together by considering economies of scale, Tom has commissioned new works from Vancouver’s most adventurous composers and improvising musicians, works which were often then performed in Tom and Karen Matthews’ home -with fees paid through a collection at the door. Tom always insists that the artists get paid. The early concerts in Tom and Karen’s living room led to the now legendary SONG ROOM series.
The home concerts were only the beginning. Tom went on to found and co-found a number of innovative, wildly successful collaborative artist-oriented projects including: SONG ROOM (2004 – ), a salon for the commissioning of new song collaborations between Vancouver composers and writers, with Karen Matthews and David Pay of Music on Main; CABINET: Interdisciplinary Collaborations (2007 – ), an experimental arts collective established to produce new work in Vancouver, with Marie Lopez, Karen Love and David Pay; THE 0PERA PROJECT (2011 – ), ten-minute operas for up to four singers and four instrumentalists, bringing together and commissioning Vancouver writers, composers and musicians, with Karen Matthews; and HOME FRONT (2011 – ), a new series featuring B.C. poets, with Karen Matthews and Jenny Penberthy.
“We are delighted to introduce the new Mayor’s Arts Award category for Lifetime Achievement by presenting it to an artist who has made such a phenomenal contribution to the cultural life of our City,” concluded Mayor Robertson.
The 2012 Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony will be held in September, date and venue to be announced in the spring.
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About The Mayor’s Arts Awards
The Mayor’s Arts Awards, established by City Council in 2006, recognize established and emerging artists in a wide variety of disciplines, from literary to culinary to performing and visual arts. With this year’s addition of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the program includes awards in fifteen categories, including performing and studio art forms, and support of the arts through volunteerism and philanthropy.
2 comments
Tom Cone makes every day of his life a gift – to his family, friends, community of artists, and the whole fabric of Vancouver life. His laugh is one of my favourite sounds in our city, reminding us with its hearty resonance to live with passion, joy, and fire in the heart. His support of art and artists, through his vision and his thousandfold acts of co-creation, support, encouragement, collaboration, and fellowship have provided network, venue, profile, motivation, and inspiration to several generations of our city’s cultural network. Along with so many, my life has been enriched and informed by the example he has set, and I’m so glad that the city has provided this public opportunity to honour his immensely heartfelt contributions.
We feel privileged to have been neighbours and friends with Tom,Karen and Ruby.
As many have said, Tom’s spirit,tenacity and belief in his art made Vancouver culturally richer.He transformed the landscape of our community for decades and his ability to “change up” his craft was truly amazing.
Once in a while we meet someone who is truly a visionary,for us and many others, Tom Cone,is that person.
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Stewart,my son,and many other younger people view Tom as a life mentor,He inspired all and passed on his wisdom and enthusiasm with such warmth………..they felt they were special.A rare gift
Thank you Tom.
janis,louie and your pal stew