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Calgary MP and minister of Veterans Affairs announced a $5 million injection of federal funds Thursday for Studio Bell, which allowed the new home of the National Music Centre to execute its final stages of construction last fall. The cash was allocated through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and went towards facilitating completion of exhibition spaces, three recording studios, an integrated ticketing system, internal mechanical and electrical systems, and a public art piece entitled Solar Drones.
Andrew Mosker, president and CEO of the National Music Centre, said the financial support provided was "critical to our growth and the success of our opening year." In its first months of operation, the Allied Works Architecture-designed facility garnered international attention for its avant-garde architecture, supported over a dozen artists-in-residence, and hosted several major events. The National Music Centre was launched in 2012 but existed under other pseudonyms, including the Cantos Music Foundation. It hosts the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Collection and Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
"The National Music Centre has created an important new landmark that celebrates the ongoing story of music in Canada," said Hehr. "From vibrant exhibitions to hands-on education programs to concerts, the NMC is quickly becoming an international hub for music and a place of pride for Canadian music fans. The Centre has proven itself to be a place of outstanding vision and ambition, and has contributed to the continued revitalization of Calgary's East Village."
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities and the acquisition of specialized equipment across the country. Groundbreaking for the $191 million complex took place in February 2013.
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