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A New Museum of Contemporary Art for Calgary?

2/5/2011

3 Comments

 
OK, so we've got the Calatrava bridge. Check. We've got the Foster skyscraper. Check. We've even got a Gehry-esque art museum -- oh wait, scratch that... that's Edmonton (well, technically it IS the Art Gallery of Alberta, isn't it?)

So Calgary's got all the trappings of a biggish, modern, global city of a million people. Where are the musuems of contemporary art in this city? Sure, we've got some decent galleries -- don't get me wrong -- and the Art Gallery of Calgary on Stephen Ave is great for the space and size of it. But where's our MOMA? (Or, for that matter, where is our dedicated museum of art at ALL?)

I'm sure someone has some plan for it, but wouldn't the old Telus World of Science building on 11th street SW be perfect for this? When the new science centre opens sometime later this year, what is to become of the existing one? It's an odd building -- certainly not one that would work converted to office or commercial space (or worse, residential... althougth that big round planetarium would make a killer "media room" wouldn't it?)

If they tear down that building, that will be a loss of one of the only examples of modern, 1960-era brutalist architecture in Calgary.

How about a new home for a museum of contemporary art? Or, a dedicated museum for photographic art? Maybe this is already in the grand plan somewhere, but if it is, I haven't heard about it.

Does anyone out there know what the plan is for that structure? And does anyone else agree that it should be saved and turned into a cultural refuge in a city that's still lacking?
3 Comments
Jeremy Philip link
2/5/2011 12:39:03 pm

I totally agree, Calgary is severely lacking in the arts scene. Wouldn't it be great to market Calgary as having an arts focus similar to that of Edmonton or Montreal? It seems that we focus all of our energy advertising the Stampede, and leave the our creative's to fend for themselves.

Reply
John Larsen
2/5/2011 01:25:20 pm

Todd - good idea; you should run for Alderman...er, Councillor. But, seriously, I heard a rumour that the building can't be razed because it is indeed some kind of heritage testament to the architectual wonders of the past...is this true? if so, make it work - your idea is grand.

Reply
EM
2/5/2011 02:52:26 pm

A little bird mentioned something along the line of your musings a couple of weeks ago. Apparently negotiations are underway and an art gallery might be among the first anchor tenants in a new West Village. The entire planetarium structure - aside from being a wonderful landmark - is concrete so hard to blast out.

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