Southern Alberta

Application Deadline July 9, 2025

Program Dates Jan 12, 2026 - Jan 30, 2026

Overview  

This residency provides individual musicians and bands/ensembles of all genres with space and dedicated time to research, create, and develop projects within Banff Centre’s exceptional campus and mountain setting. 

You will have the freedom to focus on your artistic process and structure your time according to your project’s needs. Additionally, you'll receive artistic inspiration and career advice from well-established faculty. The diverse range of artistic influences over the three weeks, combined with opportunities for peer interaction and collaboration, will foster new discoveries and transformative experiences. 

Description

This residency offers the unique opportunity for musicians at all career stages and all genres time and space to:

• Research, develop, and create their own projects, taking risks and experimenting with new ideas in a supportive environment to enhance creative practices.
• Focus on creative exploration and experimentation through peer and mentor-led group or one-on-one sessions.
• Be inspired by peers and collaborate with musicians across various genres.
• Explore new material and performance practices through public concerts that simulate professional working conditions and timelines.
• Learn to self-record in your own studio to independently document and disseminate your work.
• Gain insights into industry best practices for recording demos by collaborating with audio engineers, professional training participants, and mentors (if available).
• Join an expanded artistic community at Banff Centre for ongoing networking and support throughout your career.

A limited number of studio recording possibilities will be offered by the Professional Training Program: Audio Engineer: BMiR participants.  

Requirements

The program is ideal for individual musicians, ensembles, bands, composers, and music researchers who wish to:

• Spend focused time on a specific project
• Create new works
• Prepare for concerts, auditions, or competitions
• Explore and research innovative ideas

Participants should be comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment to fully benefit from the program. Musicians at all levels are encouraged to apply. Attendance for all three weeks of the residency is required.

Artistic Associate

Those seeking additional professional development can apply for the role of Artistic Associate, this unique opportunity is available to an individual of exceptional musical ability and maturity. In addition to the program elements the Artistic Associate will:

• Act as the liaison between faculty and musicians throughout the program.
• Be involved in the delivery and event curation of the Banff Musicians in Residence program.
• Facilitate communication between visiting artists, resident musicians, Music programming, and production staff.

The successful applicant for the Artistic Associate will receive a scholarship covering 100% of the program costs and a travel award that is subject to regional maximums, not to exceed $1500. 

• Standard scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, and 50% of meals and accommodation costs

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Athletic Aesthetics

Location: Gallery Foyer at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre(April 19 - June 14)

Featured artwork

Craig Pelzer
Javelin: Studies 1 & 2, 1978 
acrylic, graphite and ink on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

About the exhibition

Discover the surprising artistry within the world of sports! 

Athletic Aesthetics, a captivating exhibition featuring work from the AFA Art Collection, showcases 20 diverse artworks that beautifully blur the lines between art and athletics. Prepare to see iconic photographs from Edmonton's own 1978 Commonwealth Games by Don Mabie and Sylvain Voyer, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a significant local event. This exhibition uniquely explores the inherent grace and dedication found in both artistic expression and athletic endeavors.

Through a compelling collection of photography, video, prints, and paintings, Athletic Aesthetics showcases a wide range of activities, from familiar sports like football and cycling to the unexpected athleticism of ballet and bull riding. You'll gain a new appreciation for the shared skill, discipline, and even beauty that exists in these seemingly separate realms. Come and celebrate the power, elegance, and sheer joy of human movement, captured through the discerning eyes and hands of talented artists.

About the artist

Craig Pelzer was born in St. Francis, ON in 1952. Pelzer studied at the University of Saskatchewan (1970–72) before earning a BFA from the University of Alberta (1972–76). Pelzer also studied at the Banff School (now The Banff Centre) from 1976–77. Pelzer works primarily
in printmaking and painting. About his works on paper, he notes: “Paper provides me with a vehicle with which to research ideas and techniques for larger projects. Often they are within themselves finished pieces.”

About TREX

The AFA's Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program strives to ensure every Albertan is provided with an opportunity to enjoy fully developed exhibitions in schools, libraries, health care centres and smaller rural institutions and galleries throughout the province.

The TREX program assists in making both the AFA's extensive art collection and the work of contemporary Alberta artists available to Albertans.

Four regional organizations now coordinate the program for the Foundation:

• The Art Gallery of Grande Prairie - Northwest Alberta
• Art Gallery of Alberta - Northeast and North Central Alberta
• Alberta Society of Artists - Southwest Alberta
• Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre - Southeast Alberta

These partners offer a wide range of exhibitions to communities from High Level in the north, to Milk River in the south, and virtually everywhere in between.

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 at the Banff Centre.

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 analogue darkroom facilities.
• access to digital photographic production.
• production support from the photography facilitator at Banff Centre.
• the option of giving a public talk with an associated fee at CARFAC-based rates.

Please note that limited darkroom supplies are available for purchase. The award winner should anticipate bringing supplies as needed for their project.

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. 

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, etc.
• 8 to 15 years of professional arts experience.
• demonstrated commitment to professional practice.

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

The program suits those focused on

• working on a specific project.
• creating new works.
• exploring and researching innovative ideas.

Application Deadline: June 18, 2025
Program Dates: Jan 19, 2026 - Feb 13, 2026

For more information and to apply: https://bit.ly/4ksP5fU