Montreal, March 6, 2022 - The Conseil des arts de Montréal is proud to have collaborated for over 20 years with the Conseil québécois de la musique in the Opus Awards gala, which highlights the excellence and diversity of concert music in Quebec.

At the 25th edition of the event, the Opus Inclusion and Diversity Montréal Prize was awarded to the Society for the Arts in Healthcare ( La SAMS). This award, which is accompanied by a $10,000 grant from the Conseil des arts de Montréal, aims to better reflect the multiple realities and facets of the musical practices that coexist in the city.

About La SAMS

SAMS is the largest network of professional musicians presenting custom concerts in health care settings in Quebec. Present throughout Quebec, 's mission is to improve the lives of patients and residents in health care institutions through better access to the arts.

La SAMS collaborates with some 220 established professional artists who enable it to carry out its important mission. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the organization has been remarkably active, presenting some 660 concerts to people in health care facilities, including many seniors, bringing comfort, warmth and hope to a much-needed audience.

The jury was keen to recognise the indispensable nature of this organisation as a beacon of light, particularly at a time when we collectively need so much sharing, comfort and caring.
"La SAMS has redoubled its creativity and boldness since the beginning of the pandemic to make a difference in people's lives. As music is a real source of comfort, I would like to congratulate La SAMS for bringing it to the ears of the most isolated people ," said Ben Marc Diendéré, Chair of the Conseil des arts de Montréal.

Whether through its concerts, its " Calls from the Heart", where musicians offer performances over the phone, or its " Capsules du cœur", available online and on DVD, La SAMS has distinguished itself as one of the most inclusive music organizations in our community. The Conseil des arts de Montréal could not be happier to join the Conseil québécois de la musique in presenting this much-deserved award.

About the Conseil des arts de Montréal

As a dynamic partner in Montréal's professional artistic creation, the Conseil des arts de Montréal identifies, accompanies, supports and recognizes excellence in artistic creation, production and dissemination. It encourages openness, discovery and daring at the heart of Montreal's artistic landscape through its structuring actions.
Since 1956, the Conseil des arts de Montréal has contributed to the development of "Montréal, cultural metropolis".

Source: Conseil des arts de Montréal