Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography 2027

Application Deadline June 17, 2026

Overview  

Created by the friends and family of the late artist Barbara Spohr, the Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography encourages the development of Canadian contemporary photography by providing financial and creative assistance to a mid-career artist making a compelling contribution to the field. 

This annual award supports one mid-career Canadian artist (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) working in photography to undertake a fully funded residency in the Banff Centre Crich Studio. This competitive program supports independent research, creative exploration, and project development.

Description

During this month-long self-directed residency, the award winner will have:

• 24/7 access to the Crich Studio, a Leighton Artist Studio featuring private black and white analogue darkroom facilities.
• Facilitated access to digital print production.
• Technical support from the photography facilitator at Banff Centre.
• The option of giving a public talk with an associated fee at CARFAC-based rates.

In preparation for the residency, the award winner should anticipate bringing all supplies needed for their project. Please note that limited darkroom supplies are available for purchase. You will also be responsible for the proper disposal of used/exhausted chemistry. 

This residency is designed to support independent, self-directed work. Technical support is available from Banff Centre’s photography facilitator; however, production support and access to specialized facilities is limited. There is no access to other visual arts production studios. 

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

Requirements

Applications are open to Canadian mid-career photo-based artists with a strong exhibition record. The Barbara Spohr Memorial Award residency supports independent projects across a broad range of creative photo practices. 

For the purposes of this program, mid-career is defined as having:

• A strong body of work with a minimum of ten exhibitions in a professional context, such as artist-run centres, public art galleries, recognized photo festivals.
• 8 to 15 years of professional arts experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional practice.

This award is best suited for those who are:

• Working in black and white analogue processes.
• Engaged in digital photo techniques.
• Exploring alternative photographic processes, such as cyanotype.
• Making a compelling contribution to the field of photography.
• Developing a specific project or creating new works.
• Exploring and researching innovative ideas within their practice.

Applicants should demonstrate proficiency with darkroom processes, with an awareness of safety procedures.

This studio is wheelchair accessible, however the darkroom facilities are not. Please contact us if you require wheelchair accessible accommodation.