Dates
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
Program Dates: March 16 - 27, 2026
Overview
Banff Centre’s Spring Writers Residency provides participants with the time and space for creative exploration away from the constraints of everyday life. Writers will be able to delve deep into their creative project, meet with a community of artistic peers, and take advantage of workshops and mentorship opportunities with faculty Eden Robinson, Nicole Sealey, Vidyan Ravinthiran, and professional guest Stephen Motika (Nightboat Books).
This flexible program with optional program elements allows writers to choose the amount of support they are looking for.
Description
This two-week self-directed residency provides writers with individual accommodation and a small private studio for them to focus, reconnect, and re-energize their writing practice. In addition, participants will be able to engage with other writers on the program as well as specialist faculty.
Since all program elements are optional, participants can customize the residency according to the writing support needed.
Optional elements include:
- talks from faculty Eden Robinson, Nicole Sealey, Vidyan Ravinthiran, and professional guest Stephen Motika.
- one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty to discuss ideas, experiences, and obstacles.
- Q & A sessions.
- workshops to discuss useful techniques, devices, and aspects.
- public readings.
Requirements
The program is designed to cater to emerging and established writers with a proven publication record seeking a period of dedicated time to work on a project in any genre.
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.
Participants are provided with individual accommodation and a small private studio to focus on their writing practice.
This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.
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 per person (Tuition, Accommodation and Meal Plan): $3 616.20
Scholarship Amount Applied*: $2 469.60
You pay (fee after scholarship applied): $1 146.60
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.
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.