Animating Art Song Series ⮛ | Reaching Out Through Song ⮚

Animating Art Song Series

Animation and music have long been natural creative partners. For generations, animated films have introduced audiences to classical music, brought songs to life through visual storytelling, and created memorable cultural experiences for audiences of all ages. The Animating Art Song Series builds on this tradition by pairing Canadian art song with original animation created by emerging artists in collaboration with professional musicians and filmmakers.

Each project begins with a professionally recorded performance by some of Canada’s leading performers of opera and art song. From there, students from OCAD University work alongside faculty, creative mentors, and the Canadian Art Song Project to develop an original animated interpretation of the music—one that responds to the song’s poetry, characters, history, and sense of place through a distinctive visual language inspired by Canadian experiences and culture.

Through these collaborations, CASP is exploring new ways to share Canadian stories through music and animation. The series celebrates Canadian composers, poets, performers, and visual artists while providing emerging animators with the opportunity to create original works inspired by Canada’s rich musical and literary heritage. Together, these short films invite audiences of all ages to discover Canadian art song in fresh, imaginative, and engaging ways.

Reaching Out Through Song Series

Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, when live performances were largely impossible, the Reaching Out Through Song Series marked the Canadian Art Song Project’s first exploration of film as a creative medium. Conceived as a way to continue commissioning, performing, and sharing Canadian art song with audiences around the world, the series brought together performers and filmmakers to create original short films and music videos centered on Canadian songs.

Each release features the premiere recording of a Canadian work, creating a lasting artistic document while introducing audiences to music they may be hearing for the very first time. The series laid the foundation for CASP’s continuing exploration of video-first projects, including the Animating Art Song Series, and reflects the organization’s commitment to finding new ways to share Canadian stories through song.