International Jazz Day Proclamation
Acknowledging the connection between the values inherent in jazz music and the organization's own mandate, the UNESCO proclamation of April 30 each year as International Jazz Day notes that jazz is a unique form of music that can be a unifying force for positive engagement among diverse groups worldwide. Among UNESCO's objectives for International Jazz Day, the proclamation cites highlighting the contribution of jazz to the dialogue among cultures, promoting the teaching of jazz music, especially to vulnerable children in marginalized communities, and recognizing jazz music as a universal language of freedom. Click here to read the complete draft proclamation, issued in October 2011.
International Jazz Day was inaugurated on April 30, 2012, with round-the-clock concerts in Paris, New Orleans, and New York City. Istanbul is the location for this year's official celebration. Click here to read about April 30 events in Istanbul and worldwide.
