IMC works closely with partners abroad to promote Irish improvised music.
IMC is a member of Europe Jazz Network, creating close connections with European partners. In 2012, IMC’s 12 Points Festival was awarded EJN’s prestigious Award for Adventurous Programming.
In 2019, EJN created the Zenith Award, a new Award for excellence and innovation in emerging artists that will be awarded annually at 12 Points, complementing the existing EJN Awards for “Adventurous Programming” and “Music & Community”.
The Europe Jazz Network (EJN) was created in 1987 as a Europe-wide non-profit association. Currently it includes 154 organisations (festivals, clubs and concert venues, independent promoters and national organisations) in 35 countries. EJN's mission is to encourage, promote and support the development of jazz and creative improvised music within the European scene and to create opportunities for artists, organisers and audiences from all different countries to meet and communicate.
Criss Cross Europe came to life under the name Jazz Plays Europe in 2008, to encourage interaction between the different European jazz scenes. Each year, Criss Cross Europe brings together 6 promising young jazz and improvising musicians from 6 European countries to form a pan-European band. During a residency period these musicians work together, guided by experts and an artistic coach – a flag-bearer of the European jazz scene, which culminates in a European tour. During these residences, musicians can experiment, collaborate to find an intercultural musical dialogue, and also focus on their own career development on a European level.
The Criss-Cross Europe partners are Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (Scotland), Improvised Music Company (Ireland), Paradox & AMPA (The Netherlands), Music LX (Luxembourg), Estonia Jazz Union (Estonia) and JazzLab (Belgium), and 8 concerts will take place across the 6 countries.
IMC is a member of the Jazz Promotion Network, connecting with peer organisations in Ireland and the UK.
The Jazz Promotion Network aims to advance and support professional development, information exchange and partnership opportunities for the UK & Irish jazz industry, artists and audiences. A collaborative network that enables the diverse UK & Irish jazz sector to thrive, innovate and inspire.
www.jazzpromotionnetwork.org.uk