Studio Bell Opens July 1 in Calgary

On July 1, Studio Bell is finally opening its doors to the public. The National Music Centre plans to rock Calgary and Canada starting on Canada Day and have several more celebrations planned throughout the year, until full programmatic and architectural completion in October.

Studio Bell is a state-of-the-art facility designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture. It is also the first national cultural institution dedicated to celebrating all of Canada’s music. The building, located in Calgary’s East Village and clad in glazed terra cotta, consists of nine interlocking towers. It includes five floors of exhibition that showcase a collection of musical instruments and equipment that cover over 450 years of history, Canadian music memorabilia, and three Canadian music halls of fame. Exhibits are also interactive that combine touch, sight, and sound creating a thrilling experience for visitors.

For the opening celebrations and to celebrate our country’s birthday, the Premier Founding Partner, Bell Canada, offers free public admission to Studio Bell from 10am to 5pm on Canada Day. There will also be special Canada Day programming.

Starting on June 15, you can register online for this event on their website. The first 500 visitors to register have guaranteed early entry for NMC’s opening day program and receive a gift when they arrive.

For the entire month of July, Studio Bell will be open every day before going to regular year round hours of 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday in August. Admission after Canada Day is $18 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, $11 for children ages three to twelve, and free for children under three. Advance sales begin June 15, although Membership sales will be launched on June 1 here. If you buy a membership between June 1 and 30, you get a discount.

“Bell is proud to celebrate the grand opening of Studio Bell, the new home of the National Music Centre and an inspiration to all music lovers,” said Loring Phinney, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Bell Canada. “We look forward to supporting NMC in creating and sharing great Canadian musical experiences with visitors for years to come.”