Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Cantos Music Foundation will relocate and expand its operations at the historic King Edward Hotel property in East Village and in the longer term become the National Music Centre of Canada. The King Edward Hotel site was chosen because the hotel's history is steeped in Calgary's early history as a city, due to the hotel's very strong connection to music. As well, the City of Calgary has a long range plan to revitalize the neighborhood where the King Eddy is situated and has committed significant resources toward improving infrastructure in the neighborhood. Finally, long-term, this location is ideally situated be¬cause it is a central connector between the existing downtown, the Calgary Stampede area and the surrounding areas all of which are being knit into the heart of Calgary's downtown urban fabric.

This creative convergence of the Cantos Music Foun¬dation and growth in the city forms a bold new vi-sion for what has been a marvelous but quietly held collection. It is a vision that reaches far beyond existing borders as an arts organization in Calgary and responds to the changing needs of the City and its desire to develop arts and culture that are recognized globally.

Cantos envisions a world-class destination for public programs, civic engagement, music education, creativity and learning that incorporates, expands and honours the existing historic King Edward Hotel. This project will also integrate Cantos' existing historical musical instrument collection and public programs into the King Eddy and transform it into a new National Music Centre.

(From competition brief)