Calgary art museum announces permanent free admission

Glenbow Museum will also undergo a name change as part of the Glenbow Reimagined campaign

By: Iqraa Khan

Downtown Calgary (blazejosh/Pixabay)

Free general admission is coming soon to one of Calgary’s most notable art museums. Glenbow Museum made this pivotal announcement at a press event on Feb. 17, along with more information about the transformation of the museum.

“The vast majority of museums in the world charge for admissions to their gallery which unfortunately means that there are always members of those communities who cannot participate in the enrichment we know the arts bring in our lives,” said Nicholas R. Bell, president and CEO of the museum. “Glenbow will join the ranks of museums which provide free admission as the first major museum in Canada to offer free general admission for everyone forever.”

 Alberta Premier Jason Kenney also announced that the Glenbow Museum will be renamed the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture, in honour of the late founder of Shaw Communications and Corus Entertainment, as part of the Glenbow Reimagined campaign.

The campaign is focused on eliminating the cost of general admission to remove the fundamental barrier of affordability. This advancement will ensure everyone has an opportunity to access Glenbow’s resources by redesigning the building to recognize physical accessibility barriers and incorporating inclusive solutions by listening to experts and advocates with lived experiences.

With art and culture playing an important role in the lives of people from different socioeconomic statuses, it is important to ensure that there is barrier-free access to world-class artwork from artists across Canada and around the world. “JR firmly believed that there is a responsibility as a citizen to give back and the more you have the more you give,” noted Julie Shaw, president of the Shaw Family Foundation and the daughter of JR Shaw, in a memorial video presented during the press event.

Shaw also announced that the foundation has donated $35 million to the Glenbow Museum in order to provide free admission for visitors coming to the museum.

Gail O’Brien, the co-chair of the Glenbow Reimagined campaign, announced that the museum will be securing $40 million from the government of Canada, $40 million from the government of Alberta, $25 million from the City of Calgary, and an additional $12 million from Glenbow supporters to bring innovation to the arts. She additionally stressed the importance of art education exposure for the general public. 

Kenney and other speakers at the event acknowledged how this advancement will allow the museum to inspire future generations of artists and encourage the studying and appreciation of artists and their works.