For those of us who love a good dose of art and culture, the Glenbow Museum in Calgary is a refuge. Of course, it’s been a while since anyone could visit.
The beloved Glenbow is still in the throes of a comprehensive renovation of its 1970s building downtown. We know you’re eager for it to reopen, but in the meantime, we do have the scoop about some shiny new features to expect. Here’s what’s coming to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary.
What’s new
The city just announced a big $11 million investment in reallocated funding to support additional enhancements for the Glenbow. The museum is already getting a huge facelift, transforming the old building into an accessible, dynamic community hub: the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture.
This funding will go towards creating new public spaces such as a terrace and garden, along with street-level improvements around the museum. According to Mayor Jyoti Gondek, “By supporting Glenbow’s transformation, we’re creating public spaces that will connect people, celebrate culture, and strengthen our city’s appeal as a global destination.”
Here are some of the highlights:
A 13,000-square-foot rooftop terrace
The fifth-floor public terrace and garden will offer stunning sights of downtown Calgary. You’ll get western views of Stephen Avenue and surrounding buildings like the Calgary Tower, TELUS Sky, and The Bow. You’ll also be able to see the gallery from up high through the skylight on the terrace.
What’s even better is the terrace and garden will be free for everyone. For those who work downtown, we can’t imagine a prettier place to enjoy your lunch break.
New street-level entrances
Renovations will also include improvements on the street level to improve accessibility to the Glenbow’s new home. The main entrance on Stephen Avenue will be revitalized to offer views and easy entry into the building. There will also be a secondary entrance along 9th Avenue SE for convenient access to the museum and its theatre.
Access to all eight floors
Beyond the galleries, visitors will be able to access all eight floors of the building. This includes unique back-of-house views of the museum’s storage systems, production facilities, and Conservation Lab.
A new theatre, shop, and restaurant
The Glenbow will be getting its very own theatre, museum shop, and restaurant. All great spots to take a load off after a long day spent wandering the galleries.
When will the Glenbow reopen?
While the Glenbow at The Edison was the gallery’s temporary home for a while, that has now closed in order to focus efforts on developing the new Glenbow Reimagined. While we unfortunately don’t know an exact date for the big reopening, the plan is it’ll be sometime in 2026. So it’s not too far away!
Who else can’t wait for the big day?
Glenbow, Calgary Alberta
Where: 130 9 Ave SE
Recent Posts:
This small town in Alberta is home to one of the oldest theatres in Western Canada
To paint or bake? Unique workshops & classes to try with a friend in Calgary
