Calgary takes steps toward new music centre

A new national music centre set to rise in Calgary's East Village neighbourhood is a step closer to breaking ground after a city council committee approved a $25-million commitment to the project Tuesday — albeit with restrictions.

The group unanimously approved a contribution of $25 million for construction of the Cantos Music Foundation's National Music Centre, proposed for the site of the historic King Edward Hotel and carrying an estimated construction cost of $94 million.

The endorsement still needs final approval from council's finance committee, which will meet Jan. 25. If approved, $2.5 million will be available immediately to support planning stages of the proposed 80,000-square-foot facility.

The rest would be accessible only when Cantos secures financial commitments from the provincial and federal governments. The foundation is also seeking $20 million in corporate and individual donations.

Organizers unveiled the chosen design for the new facilities in September, with Oregon-based Allied Works Architecture to work with Calgary architectural firm BKDI. The tentative plan is for the venue to open in July 2012.

The centre would be a multi-purpose venue, set to house the Cantos Music Collection, a music centre with performance space, recording studios, classrooms, radio broadcasting facilities, artists' programs and a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.