National Music Centre Invites 10 Alberta Artists for Mini-Residencies to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

The National Music Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary by supporting local musicians.

After turning 10 years old last month, the NMC has announced a series of NMC Artist Mini-Residencies which will feature ten rising Alberta-based acts. The two-day residencies will take place over the next year as the centre continues to commemorate its milestone year, giving each artist the opportunity to hone their craft while remaining in their home province. Each will gain access to the charity and museum's instruments, studios, technology and studio team.

The handpicked roster includes a number of genres, spanning hip-hop, jazz, electronic music, folk, shoegaze and more. This year's recipients include the experimental avant-garde Ackerley, Sharif, Rafiq, de Jong Improvising Unit ensemble, Calgary native pop-folk singer Colin Carbonera, plus Canadian-Jamaican pop/R&B veteran voice and Billboard Canada Women in Music alumna Kreesha Turner. Noel Fanaeian, Rachel Gleddie, Sarah Houston, The Three Sisters, 0Stella and Witch Victim round out the lineup, a crop of artists working with experimental music textures and sonic blends, binding together diverse styles like chorus, electronic and psychedelic shoegaze with pop, a cappella, acoustic and country elements.

“Alberta is home to an incredible range of musical voices, and this year’s residency artists showcase that richness beautifully,” says Stephanie Hutchinson, NMC’s director of programs. “As we celebrate NMC’s 10th anniversary, we’re excited to give these artists the time, space, and tools to dig deeper into their craft, and create something they might not otherwise have the opportunity to make. Supporting Alberta musicians in their home province as they grow and push their artistry forward is a big part of what this program is all about.”

The National Music Centre continues to build on the country's musical legacy, building on the interconnectedness of music heritage, education and cultural tourism while championing local artists all across the country. This year, BMO made a $500,000 five-year commitment to fund NMC's Music Therapy Initiative, connecting hospital patients and families with healing through music, and Steve Kane was named chair of the company's board of directors. President & CEO Andrew Mosker also earned a major honour with his inclusion on the Billboard Canada Power Players 2026 list.

As the celebrations continue for NMC's milestone ten years, a plethora of special exhibits and events are already in line, including a Spring 2027 exhibit dedicated to Canadian singer-songwriter and national treasure Joni Mitchell, titled Joni's Jazz, a feature exhibit on 2026 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee and hitmaker Nelly Furtado and a Sept. 2026 display dedicated to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame Class of 2026, all of which will take over the NMC's primary hub and museum space, Studio Bell.

Check out more details on the 10 recipients of NMC's Artist Mini-Residencies here.