12 Points 2024 Announcement
Improvised Music Company is delighted to announce the return of our flagship European festival 12 Points in 2024, for a Nordic edition in partnership with GLivelab Tampere, Finland.
12 Points 2024 and the 12 Points Jazz Futures Conference will take place at GLivelab Tampere from the 25th to the 28th September 2024, featuring 12 rising stars of European jazz and hosting delegates from across Europe.
Described by the Observer as “A four day event hot wired into the changing dynamic of the contemporary European jazz scene.” 12 Points has been a launching point for the next generation of creative and ambitious European jazz artists since its inception.
Based in Dublin, with partners right across Europe, 12 Points alternates between Dublin and other vibrant, young European cities including Stavanger, Porto, Umeå, San Sebastian, Aarhus, and Amsterdam, and is proud to present its first Finnish edition in partnership with GLivelab Tampere.
GLivelab’s director Annamaija Saarela said: "G Livelab Tampere is happy and proud to be a partner of the 12 Points festival in 2024. During its existence, 12 Points has served dozens of young talents as a significant springboard for an international career. We are also happy to present our excellent club to international guests."
Director of Improvised Music Company and 12 Points Festival, Kenneth Killeen said:
“12 Points is delighted to be in Tampere this year, marking the festival's return to the Nordic region, after editions in Norway in 2010 and Sweden in 2014. And with it is a deserving spotlight on the interesting music from this focal point of European creativity.”
The enterprising approach to programming and the festival’s nomadic format (alternating between its home in Dublin and other vibrant young European cities) earned the festival the inaugural Europe Jazz Network award for ‘Adventurous Programming’.
12 Points is also a 2017 EFFE Laureate Festival - one of just 26 European festivals selected annually for this prestigious title by the EFA (European Festivals Association).
12 Points is also home to the prestigious Europe Jazz Network Zenith Award. An award for excellence and innovation in emerging artists, the winner of the Zenith Award is selected from the 12 Points line-up by an independent top-level jury of festivals and venue directors, from the Europe Jazz Network, who will be in attendance at 12 Points and listen to all musical acts performing live. The winning ensemble/project receives European performances and promotional opportunities from among the EJN membership, including a prestigious showcase at the European Jazz Conference.
Tampere 12 Points is financially supported by the City of Tampere, Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Wihuri Foundation.
Improvised Music Company is primarily supported by the Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon with support for 12 Points from Culture Ireland.