After dominating the music industry for over 50 years, Quincy Jones will now join the prestigious history of Montblanc de la Culture.

Quincy Jones received the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award at a ceremony on October 2nd 2012 at The Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

Quincy Jones for Montblanc

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, which has celebrated the work of outstanding private patrons of the arts throughout the world each year since 1992.  To be chosen, a winning patron has to demonstrate not only a history of personal commitment to the arts, but also a concern that the wider public should benefit as a result of that support. A jury of internationally renowned artists chooses 12 winners from a shortlist of 36 (3 nominees in each country). Previous winners are giants in their field, from Yoko Ono to HRH Charles Prince of Wales, from Susan Sontag to Queen Sofia of Spain.

Of the 12 participating countries, this anniversary year’s recipients also include Renzo Piano (Italy) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (UK).

This year the American jury was made up of writer Fran Lebowitz, fashion designer Michael Bastian, and concert pianist Lang Lang. With their extensive experience, discerning tastes, and knowledge of what it means to be a patron of the arts, Montblanc is proud of their decision to honour Quincy Jones.

With a 50-year career in music behind him, Quincy Jones is truly a legend in his own lifetime, he is less well-known for his many years of work in developing the talents of younger musicians, preserving and maintaining the heritage of African-American music and in using music and the arts to offer a lifeline to those trapped at the bottom of society. Having backed, funded, and founded numerous projects including IBAM, The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) and The Quincy Jones ‘Listen Up’ Foundation, Mr. Jones is the definition of arts patronage.

The key to the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award is the $20,000 Jones will receive and donate to The Jazz Foundation of America. In addition, Jones will also receive the Montblanc Patron of Art Limited Edition 2012 Joseph II Writing Instrument, created to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Awards.

Shinesquad joins in celebrating Quincy Jones’s achievements in music, video and as patron of the arts.