Overview
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
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Each residency has specific eligibility requirements; please visit our website for our current and available programs open for application.
Total Fee (Tuition, Accommodation and Meal Plan): $8 831.75
You Pay (accommodation & meal plan costs after scholarship applied): $2 596.75
Scholarship amount applied: $6 235.00
Application Fee
$65 for individuals or groups, $35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous.
The application fee is non-refundable. 100% of this fee goes towards the cost of administering the application in SlideRoom.
Scholarships
We are pleased to offer scholarships to support participants in our program. Below are details regarding the scholarship amount and how they are applied.
- Standard scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, and 50% of meals and accommodation costs.
- Canadian Indigenous scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, meals, and accommodation costs.
To receive the standard scholarship, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.