As the National Music Centre’s Studio Bell is moving closer to its opening date, the organization in charge will be enjoying the benefits of a big donation in honour of a Calgary music legend.
On Monday, the Sam and Betty Switzer Foundation donated $500,000 to Studio Bell to name an exhibition gallery after Ron Casat, who died earlier this year.
Casat spent his time playing alongside other greats, including Ian Tyson and Amos Garrett.
The money will be going towards the cost of the $191M, 160,000 square foot facility.
Staff with the National Music Centre says the donation and gallery are a fitting tribute.
“Every gallery at the National Music Centre, Studio Bell, has a specific theme or narrative about it,” says Andrew Mosker with the National Music Centre. “This one is called ‘Speak Up’ and it is at the intersection where artists from Canada, Canadian singer-songwriters, their songs or a particular song has been used to amplify a message, a social message.”
Studio Bell will have soft launch activities in time for the Juno Awards in the spring, but will open to the public with an official grand opening in summer 2016.
