National Music Centre Proclaims 2023 “The Year of the Guitar” with Guitar-Centric Exhibitions and Events
Events include a guitar petting zoo and conversation with legendary players
(Calgary, AB — March 16, 2023) The year 2023 has officially been dubbed “The Year of the Guitar” for National Music Centre (NMC), with various guitar and rock ‘n’ roll centered exhibitions and public programs running throughout the year.
The celebration of everyone’s favourite fretted instrument soft launched in February with the opening of the Showcase: Guitars exhibition, featuring 25 rare and legendary guitars curated from NMC's collection; and the recent unveiling of Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Nickelback in salute to the globally celebrated rock band. Now, even more events geared towards all types of guitar enthusiasts are slated for the coming weeks.
For novice players, NMC will host an Acoustic Guitar Garden on March 19 and Electric Guitar Garden on March 25. Guitar Garden is an interactive display of guitars that visitors can touch, hold, and even play to experience the different sounds and textures each one produces. A great introduction to a range of guitars, these events are for anyone who's interested in guitars, but might not have regular opportunities to “pick” and play around with this beloved instrument.
Then, on April 2 to coincide with International Guitar Month, NMC will host “You’re too loud!” A conversation between guitarists hosted by JUNO Award-winning producer and acclaimed guitarist Russell Broom (Jann Arden, Ian Tyson), and featuring Reed Shimozawa, Amos Garrett, and Miesha Louie (of Miesha and the Spanks). Visitors will get to hear these legendary players discuss playing, performing, equipment, techniques, and where life with a guitar in hand has led them.
“We’re thrilled to proclaim 2023 as ‘The Year of the Guitar,’” said Andrew Mosker, NMC’s President and CEO. “We hope this year’s activities will inspire our visitors to pick up a guitar for the first time or push their playing to the next level. We’ll also be announcing another major blockbuster exhibition that will be the centrepiece of 2023’s guitar-themed offerings, so we’ve got more exciting things on the way.”
Acoustic Guitar Garden (Mar. 19), Electric Guitar Garden (Mar. 25), “You’re Too Loud!” (Apr. 2), Showcase: Guitars, and Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Nickelback are all included with paid admission to Studio Bell. For information on all upcoming events, visit studiobell.ca/whats-on.
Regular admission to Studio Bell is $21.50 for adults, $16.50 for students/seniors (65+), $13.50 for children (3-12 years of age), and free for children under 3 years of age. Admission for NMC Members is free. To become an NMC Member, visit studiobell.ca/become-a-member. Studio Bell is now open five days a week: Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
T. 403.543.5123
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada