Banff Centre's Literary Journalism Residency is a 19-day self-directed residency offering dedicated writing time within Banff Centre’s vibrant literary community. Writers now receive a personal studio in historic Vinci Hall, a lively clubhouse-style home base where writers gather, work, exchange ideas, and build connections. For the first two weeks each writer is paired with an exceptional faculty mentor for weekly one-on-one consultations, with optional access to faculty talks, Q&As, public reading opportunities, social receptions, and campus events. The final week allows writers time to dig deep into the writing process. Designed for writers who value both independence and creative community, this residency invites participants to shape their own experience, whether through focused solo writing, peer-led workshops, informal feedback, lively conversation, and discovery. A preeminent space for long-form journalism and non-fiction writing, this residency emphasizes the strengths of thorough and articulate reporting and distinctive storytelling.
Description
This 19-day self-directed journalism and non-fiction residency offers writers dedicated time, space, and momentum to advance a writing project within an active literary community. Come together in Banff Centre’s historic Vinci Hall, the program’s new lively home base: a clubhouse-style environment of assigned personal writing-focused studios, shared lounge space, hallway conversations, spontaneous peer exchanges, and informal plans taking shape throughout the day. Expect the everyday energy of journalists and non-fiction writers working, gathering, and moving through their creative process together.
Each participant is paired with an exceptional faculty mentor, Marcello Di Cintio, Dr. Monica Kidd, or Dr. Kamal Al-Salaylee, for weekly one-on-one consultations, with an additional opportunity to meet guest speaker Corine Abouseif from The Walrus. The faculty bring complementary expertise in literary journalism, memoir, investigative reporting, cultural criticism, and narrative nonfiction, helping writers strengthen both the research, reporting, and storytelling components at the heart of their work.
Optional programming includes faculty talks and Q&As, public reading opportunities, social receptions, and campus events.
Literary Journalism is best suited to non-fiction writers who are excited by community and comfortable shaping their own time, choosing the balance of solitude, mentorship, programming, and peer connection that best supports their practice.
Application Deadline January 06, 2027
Program Dates May 31, 2027 - Jun 18, 2027
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Literary Journalism is designed for non-fiction writers seeking a professional development opportunity in a community of peers with the guidance of an experienced writer/editor, as each participant work on their creative non-fiction or journalism projects. Applicants should be experienced professionals, active in the diversified fields of writing, including print or electronic media. This program is open to experienced non-fiction writers, journalists, freelance critics, curators, artists, and academics, or established writers new to non-fiction, with an emphasis on those who can write for a lay audience with logic, vigour, and charm—and those who have a portfolio to prove it.
The residency suits those focused on:
- working on a specific project.
- creating new works.
This program is not open to applicants who have taken part in a Banff Centre residency in the last year, nor to current faculty members of any other Banff Centre programming.
This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.
Total Program Fee $5 937.75
Banff Centre Arts Scholarship $4 016.25
Participant Cost * $1 921.50
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.
We are pleased to offer a range of scholarships to support participants in our programs.
- Banff Centre Arts Scholarship
Program participants receive a Banff Centre Arts Scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, plus a contribution towards accommodation and meals.
*Participant costs shown above reflect the cost after the scholarship has been applied. To be eligible for Banff Centre scholarship, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
- Canadian Indigenous Arts Scholarship
Canadian Indigenous Arts applicants receive a scholarship that covers the full cost of tuition, accommodation and meals.