The Glenn Gould Prize

Created by The Glenn Gould Foundation, The Glenn Gould Prize is awarded to an individual for a unique lifetime contribution that has enriched the human condition through the arts.

Now awarded biennially, The Glenn Gould Prize celebrates the uncommon achievements of each laureate as well as the singularity of Gould’s own creative spirit.

Just as the Nobel Prize has come to represent a universal symbol of excellence and achievement in science, economics, literature and statesmanship, The Glenn Gould Prize stands among the preeminent accolades conferred upon those working in the arts, communications, technology and humanitarian pursuits. Our work is guided by the belief that the arts are a force for human development, social advancement and individual enlightenment. We elevate the achievements of the world’s living masters, while promoting initiatives at the community level that reflect and extend these transformative contributions.

Prize Criteria

Nominees may come from a broad range of artistic fields, including: musical creation or performance, film, video, television, radio, recordings and other electronic media, theatre, dance/choreography, writing, technology/innovation, architecture and design. Nominees are collected through an open, public nomination process. An international jury, comprised of outstanding artists and professionals from a diverse range of life experience and disciplines, is convened in Toronto to review the roster of nominees and select the laureate.

The Glenn Gould Prize recipient receives a cash award of $100,000.

Glenn Gould Prize Statue

The Glenn Gould Prize sculpture is an original work, created by Canadian artist, Ruth Abernethy. It depicts a solitary Gould, walking on a late winter’s day, with the sun low in the sky, forming an elongated bronze shadow at the base of the figure.