Some behind-the-scenes changes at the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame are expected to create more opportunities for the facility’s funding, directors say.

“Once things are ready to rock and roll, the federal Canadian Country Music Heritage Society will be charged with operationalizing the Country Music Hall of Fame,” Hall of Fame volunteer director Rob Miller said. “We’ve got a new business plan, we’re going to have the revised website ready shortly, and open for the summer. The biggest thing is getting some programming in there to make sure it’s engaging for people and they have a reason to return.”

The Merritt Walk of Stars Society will become a sub-committee of the Canadian Country Music Heritage Society, which will take over Walk of Stars activities and operation of the Hall of Fame.

“The intent is to have this thing open year-round,” said Miller. “Right now, we’re just finalizing a website and doing all these things that will be used to generate more corporate sponsorship and support that will pay for ongoing operations. We’re also looking at national sponsors that have deeper pockets and would align themselves more appropriately with a national facility like this.”

Until more sponsorships are secured, money around the Hall of Fame is tight, but the group is working on improving it, director Ron Sanders said.

“It’s a funding issue,” he said. “We’re still working on getting more material for inside so it’s not so static. We’ve worked with the National Music Centre, which will help us put stuff in there. We had a lot of momentum a few years ago and we’ve hit a few snags, but we’ll get it going again.”

The Hall of Fame is staffed primarily by volunteers, which Sanders said the society will put a call out for in the next few weeks leading up to its expected opening for the summer in mid-May.

The changes come on the heels of $1,900 raised for the Hall of Fame at a steak dinner and performance fundraiser on Saturday. Red Deer-based country musician and Walk of Stars inductee Duane Steele said supporting the Hall of Fame was an easy decision.

“I think the heritage of the arts is very important and I think this is a big part of that to sustain its legacy,” Steele said.

About 70 people attended the event.