Art Museums in Calgary: Planning a Visit to Studio Bell

Studio Bell brings together a museum, performance and exhibition spaces, and recording studios in Calgary’s East Village. The National Music Centre collection includes more than 3,000 objects and spans more than 450 years of music technology and innovation.

The building opened on July 1, 2016. Designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture, it covers 160,000 square feet and is formed from nine subtly curved, interlocking towers clad in glazed terra cotta. The building’s exterior is an architectural landmark, while its galleries focus on the people, instruments and technology behind music.

Studio Bell’s 22 exhibition spaces cover five levels, and general admission includes access to all of them. Permanent exhibits include the Kimball Theatre Organ on the Sound Affects stage, Trailblazers: Alberta and the East Village Skybridge, where you can hear Colorado artist Patrick Marold’s Solar Drones audio installation.

The Canadian Music Halls of Fame occupy Levels 4 and 5. Other visitor attractions include the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. The mix makes it possible to move from instruments and sound installations to the stories of musicians and songwriters in one visit.

Guided options include Greatest Hits and Backstage Pass, each lasting one hour. Both require a separate Studio Bell admission, and you’re asked to arrive 15 minutes before the tour. Space is limited, so book ahead; tours are offered on select Saturdays and Sundays. Backstage Pass is recommended for ages 12 and up, and strollers aren’t permitted on that tour.

The indoor amphitheatre seats 300 people. Its schedule includes ticketed evening shows as well as daytime events included with admission; check the events calendar for details about individual events.

Regular hours are 10 am to 5 pm every day, though hours may vary weekly. Tickets are valid for all-day entry, with last entry 1.5 hours before closing. Admission is not timed entry, and you can leave and return on the same day by showing your ticket at the Visitor Experience desk.

General admission costs $24.50 for adults, $19.50 for students and seniors aged 65 and older, and $16.50 for youth aged 4–12. Children aged 3 and under and NMC members are admitted free. Seniors aged 65 and older receive free admission on Wednesdays.

Pay-what-you-can admission is available to groups of six guests or fewer. You can book general-admission tickets online in advance or purchase them at the front desk on arrival. For current hours, prices, tour availability and event details, check the official site before you go.

From City Hall LRT Station, follow the museum’s suggested walking route east along 7 Avenue SE to 4 Street SE, then south on 4 Street SE for one-and-a-half blocks. The walk takes approximately five to seven minutes. Studio Bell is about 4.3 km from Chinook Value Inn, which offers motel rooms.

Bus stops at the corner of 9 Avenue and 4 Street SE serve routes 1 and 305; route 305 operates during weekday rush hour. Calgary’s bike-path system runs directly by Studio Bell, and bike racks are available along the sidewalk.

If you’re planning transit for this outing, how to get around Calgary by public transport from the Chinook area covers the wider city network.

Street parking is available along 8 Avenue SE, with paid public lots on both the north and south sides. The Indigo lot directly north of Studio Bell is not affiliated with the National Music Centre and accepts payment only through its mobile app.

Studio Bell is less than a 10-minute walk from Calgary Tower, Calgary Stampede and Calgary City Hall. If you’re planning a separate outing, how to plan a visit to Calgary Zoo can help you prepare for another city attraction.

Studio Bell’s exhibition stages, performance areas, entrances and hallways are physically accessible and barrier-free, with two large elevators serving the building. The accessible entrance is on the north side, off 4 Street SE, next to the NMC Gift Shop. Wheelchairs are available from Visitor Experience, and service dogs with proper identification are welcome.

Caregivers who show proof of identification receive free admission, with one caregiver admission offered per individual. For a visit focused on the full set of galleries, allow the two hours recommended by Studio Bell. If you add a one-hour guided tour, plan for that time separately, along with the requested early arrival.