Deep Winter Writers 2026

Dates

Application Deadline: August 20, 2025
Program Dates: January 12 - 30, 2025

Overview  

This 19-day self-directed residency offers the opportunity to work away from the constraints of everyday life, delve deep into a creative project and take advantage of a community of artisic peers. 

Deep Winter Writers provides opportunities for consultations with exceptional mentors Holly Pester, Divya Victor, and Nasser Hussain and professional guest Joshua Rothes (Sublunary Editions), and optional group sessions that allow writers to explore useful literary tools, aspects, and devices. 

Faculty are on-campus for the first two weeks of the residency. The third week allows residents to dive deeper into their writing and apply the learning from the first two weeks. 

Description

This three-week residency has a flexible format that allows participants to choose the amount of programming and support they are looking for. 

Optional elements include:

  • thematic talks from specialist faculty and guests.
  • one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty to discuss ideas, experiences and obstacles they may be encountering in their writing across genres.
  • Q & A sessions.
  • workshops to explore techniques, aspects, and devices writers may find useful in their practice.
  • public reading opportunities.

Participants are provided with individual accommodation and a small private studio to focus on their writing practice.

Requirements

The program is designed to cater to writers in all creative genres. The program is designed for emerging and established writers with a proven publication record seeking a period of dedicated time to work on a project.

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.

Learn more about Banff Centre Literary Arts programs here.

Deadline
Residency Length
19 days - 19 days
Languages
English
Average Number of Artists in Residence at a Time
19
Collaborative Residency
Must apply and be accepted individually
Discipline
Fiction
Literary Nonfiction
Literature
New Genres
Nonfiction
Poetry
Writing
Companions
N/A
Country of Residence
Open to artists based anywhere in the world
Family Friendly
N/A
Stage of Career
Established
Additional Expectations/Opportunities
Participate in public programming
Accessible Housing
ADA Compliant
Partially Accessible (50% or more)
Meals Provided
All meals
Studios/Special Equipment
Private Studios
Studios/Facilities Accessibility
Partially Accessible (50% or more)
Type of Housing
Private bedroom in a shared housing facility on campus
Additional Eligibility Information

Each residency has specific eligibility requirements; please visit our website for our current and available programs open for application.

Number of Artists Accepted in Most Current Year
19
Artist Stipend
Travel Stipend/Material Stipends
Residency Fees
5622
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Fee Details

Total fee per person (Tuition, Accommodation and Meal Plan): $5 622.75

Scholarship Amount Applied*: $3 858.75

You pay (fee after scholarship applied): $1 764.0

Application Fee

$65 for individuals, $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

If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.

Grant/Scholarship/other Funding Support
3858
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Grant/Scholarship/Other Funding Support Details

Banff Centre offers a range of scholarship and funding opportunities for each residency. If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials through the application portal. 

Please visit the Fees & Financial Aid section of the program page to learn more about individual program's specific fees and funding availabilities. 

Application Fee
65
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Application Type
Open application