About Alkali Collective
Alkali Collective is an artist-led non-profit organization dedicated to contemporary chamber music. Since 2019, it has presented adventurous contemporary concerts, commissioned new Canadian works, and developed artistic partnerships that advance the creation and performance of contemporary music in Atlantic Canada. These efforts introduce audiences to a diverse spectrum of voices and create new Canadian works.
Based in Kjipuktuk, Mi’kma’ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Alkali Collective brings together performers, composers, guest artists, and creative partners to develop projects that explore the many possibilities of contemporary music. Our programming combines established and emerging voices, Canadian and international repertoire, new commissions, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Our Name
Alkali Collective takes its name from the salt water that surrounds much of Nova Scotia. It reflects both our connection to Atlantic Canada and an organization shaped by exchange between artists and audiences, composers and performers, and established practices and new ideas.
Our Work
Performance
Alkali Collective presents an annual concert season of contemporary chamber music in Halifax alongside performances, collaborations, and special projects throughout the region. Our flexible instrumentation allows each project to be shaped around its repertoire and artistic ideas, bringing together members of the ensemble with guest artists and collaborators.
Creation & Commissioning
Creating and presenting new Canadian music is central to our work. Alkali Collective commissions and premieres works by Canadian composers at various stages of their careers. Our ongoing Cross-Canada Commissioning Project develops collaborative relationships that extend from the initial stages of creation through rehearsal and performance. Our annual Call for Scores creates opportunities for early-career composers with connections to Atlantic Canada, bringing selected works into the ensemble’s programming and establishing new artistic relationships.
Education & Partnerships
Our work extends beyond the concert stage through educational initiatives, artist development, and creative partnerships. Alkali Collective collaborates with universities, festivals, presenters, and other organizations to offer workshops, performances, artist talks, and opportunities to explore contemporary music through performance and creation. These partnerships connect artists and audiences across the region while contributing to the continued development of contemporary music in Atlantic Canada.
Our Mandate
- To be an equitable, artist-led collective.
- To produce, present, and record contemporary concerts and events.
- To connect our city and province to the greater arts community.
- To commission new music as a driving force in the creation of new art and a platform for the voices of emerging composers to be heard.
- To offer community and educational outreach initiatives that generate interest and support for the arts.