February 17, 2022
Big news for the Glenbow Museum and Calgary families who value the arts! Thanks to a $35-million donation commemorating the legacy of JR Shaw, Glenbow becomes the first major Canadian museum to offer free general admission permanently!
The downtown Calgary building that houses Glenbow and its collection is currently undergoing a massive top-to-bottom renovation that will transform 312,000 square feet of space into one of the most vibrant and inclusive art museums in North America. When it reopens, the building will be renamed JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture and will house the Glenbow Museum. By removing the fundamental barrier of affordability, access to arts and culture will become a right for all rather than a privilege.
“At Glenbow, we have long believed that art is for everyone and have committed to increasing access to arts and culture,” said Nicholas R. Bell, President and CEO, Glenbow. “This gift is pivotal in our journey to reimagine the museum. The Glenbow collection belongs to the people of Alberta and now, thanks to the incredible generosity and vision of the Shaw family, it will truly be inclusive and accessible to everyone.”
“JR was so proud of the beautiful works created by Canada’s artists, and he did everything he could to ensure people would have the opportunity to enjoy them as much as he did,” said Ms. Shaw. “In that spirit, this tribute to JR is also meant to be a generational gift for the people and visitors to the city he loved to call home.”
JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture will be a place for everyone, leading the future of arts and culture in Canada. It will be vital to enhancing Calgary’s downtown core while creating cultural and economic benefits for the city and the province.
For more information, please visit www.glenbow.org.
