Spring Writers Residency
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
Program Dates: March 16 – 27, 2026
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.
Overview
Banff Centre’s Spring Writers Residency provides participants with the time and space for creative exploration away from the constraints of everyday life. Writers will be able to delve deep into their creative project, meet with a community of artistic peers, and take advantage of workshops and mentorship opportunities with faculty Eden Robinson, Nicole Sealey, Vidyan Ravinthiran, and professional guest Stephen Motika (Nightboat Books).
This flexible program with optional program elements allows writers to choose the amount of support they are looking for.
Description
This two-week self-directed residency provides writers with individual accommodation and a small private studio for them to focus, reconnect, and re-energize their writing practice. In addition, participants will be able to engage with other writers on the program as well as specialist faculty.
Since all program elements are optional, participants can customize the residency according to the writing support needed.
Optional elements include:
- Talks from faculty Eden Robinson, Nicole Sealey, Vidyan Ravinthiran and professional guest Stephen Motika
- One-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty to discuss ideas, experiences and obstacles
- Q & A sessions
- Workshops to discuss useful techniques, devices and aspects
- Public readings
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
Participants are provided with individual accommodation and a small private studio to focus on their writing practice.
This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.
Scholarships available.
For more information and to apply: banffcentre.ca.
