Mountain Writers Intensive 2025
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Application Deadline: May 28, 2025
Program Dates: October 29 – November 18, 2025
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential.
We acknowledge, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as Minhrpa (translated in Stoney Nakoda as the waterfalls) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Wesley First Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rockeyview, District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.
The Opportunity
Mountain Writers Intensive is a three-week residency for eight writers working on mountain narratives, environmental journalism, stories of adventure, or projects with an environmental theme. Writers can work in any genre (fiction, nonfiction, journalism, or poetry), and will enjoy dedicated, uninterrupted writing time in a spectacular mountain setting, the communality of a small group of artistic peers and support from renowned faculty.
This program overlaps with the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival where visiting authors, editors, and publishers will offer inspiration.
Description
In the niche genre of mountain literature, the journey of self-exploration and the psychology of extreme endeavours is as much a focus as the physical accomplishments involved. This program will emphasize literary quality and the development of narrative. Writers will be encouraged to meet regularly with faculty and other writing participants to share work and projects for review.
During this program writers will take part in scheduled workshops with faculty and guests to:
- Explore and learn the elements of a strong narrative
- Hear topics related to mountain and wilderness writing
- Receive feedback on unfinished work from faculty
- Share best practices and ideas with other participants
Writers will have access to uninterrupted writing time and a personal studio space.
Requirements
The program is designed to cater to emerging and established writers in all genres— fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essay, history, biography, and memoir—working on mountain narratives, environmental journalism, stories of adventure, or projects with an environmental theme.
Participants will benefit most if they are comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment. The program suits those focused on:
- Working on a specific project
- Creating new works
This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.
For more information and to apply visit banffcentre.ca.
