Corporate Art Patronage Council Announces "Mecenat Award 2017" Grand Prize: "Mitsubishi Estate's Shall We Concert"

The Corporate Mécénat Council announced the seven winning activities for the "Mécénat Award 2017" on November 2nd (1 Grand Prize, 5 Excellence Awards, 1 Special Award: Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award).

This award recognizes particularly outstanding activities by companies in creating society through arts and culture.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Mitsubishi Estate's "Shall We Concert."

Since 1996, the company has held concerts aimed at community exchange and social welfare, providing welfare support through music. Since 2004, it has conducted traveling concerts annually, recruiting approximately 5-6 participating schools each year from among about 60 special needs elementary, junior high, and high schools in Tokyo. To date, it has held a total of 76 concerts, with approximately 10,000 children and students participating. Employees handled everything from reaching out to schools to overall coordination, planning, and production, creating the programs entirely by hand.

The judging panel recognized the initiative, stating: "For many years, it has created opportunities for children with disabilities to appreciate and experience music, nurturing their rich sensibilities. Through employee-led operations, it has contributed to the enrichment and development of programs tailored to each school."

Ms. Kanako Nakamura of Mitsubishi Estate explaining the award-winning activity (right)