Banff Artist in Residence - Winter 2026

Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR) - Winter 2026 is designed for visual artists at any stage of their career to focus on their practice in a supportive learning environment. 

Over five weeks, participants are encouraged to self-direct their research and time, as well as cultivate new directions in their work. The experience of artists in residence is further supported through individual studio visits with faculty, workshops, and lectures. In addition, participants have the opportunity to build community, create connections, and share their work with other artists-in-residence and the public.

This program is designed for participation over the entire program period. Variable dates will not be considered.

Description

Participants in this residency will be supported with:

• lectures
• workshops
• peer dialogue
• feedback from experienced faculty members who will be available for both group and one-on-one consultations

Artists are provided with a studio, as well as targeted access to our extensive facilities. This includes:

• access to personal studio spaces equipped for creative work, available 24/7, providing a dedicated environment for artistic expression
• targeted access to shared production facilities and knowledgeable staff who are available to provide technical assistance and support

Facility access is based on availability of facilitators and priority goes to those requesting access in their initial applications. 

Requirements

This residency is for individual artists and collaborative groups (of no more than two) who have:

• completed formal training in visual arts at the post-secondary level, or
• equivalent experience and recognition from their peers acquired through traditional knowledge and practices. 

The program is designed to cater to visual artists at all stages of their artistic careers, providing them with tailored opportunities for professional development and creative growth, including:

• ceramicists
• digital media artists
• painters
• paper artists
• photographers
• print-makers
• sculptors

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.

Priority will be given to artists who have not attended a Visual Arts residency at Banff Centre in the past three years.

Application Deadline: June 11, 2025

Program Dates Jan 12, 2026 - Feb 13, 2026