About the Open Call

Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR) - Summer 2026 is a six-week program for visual artists at all career stages. Participants in this program are encouraged to develop their work in a supportive learning environment. They will be mentored by leading faculty who, working across a range of media and approaches, demonstrate a concern for environmental responsibility and ecological sustainability. Participants will engage in a range of residency activities including: faculty lectures, studio visits, artist-led workshops, gallery tours and formal and informal peer dialogue. Participants will have the opportunity to share their work with the public during Open Studios. A defining feature of BAiR programs is the opportunity to create connections and expand one's peer community. This program is designed for participation over the entire six week program period. Variable dates will not be considered. Visual Arts residencies at Banff Centre are structured programs of faculty-led activity and mentorship, supporting project-based studio practice. This program encourages: the development of conceptual thought through faculty talks and studio visits; the development of technical skills through studio-based experimentation and learning; discussion-based programs and workshops to support professional development; cross-cultural engagement with international faculty and participants; peer-to-peer engagement to foster a professional community. Studio-based work is further supported by faculty studio visits, lectures, and workshops, fostering a valuable community of learning. Artists are assigned individual studios with access to shared production facilities. Knowledgeable staff are available to provide technical assistance. Please take note of the program itinerary when planning your project proposal. Facility access is based on availability of facilitators and priority goes to those requesting access in their initial applications.

What is Offered

The program offers a six-week residency including a full meal plan, a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus, private studio space with access to shared production facilities and technical assistance, opportunities to showcase work-in-progress during Open Studios, group seminars and workshops with faculty, access to the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, and other campus facilities including the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre and Box Office discounts. All arts participants receive a 100% scholarship covering tuition cost, made possible through endowments and donations. Additional scholarships are available for accommodation and meal plans, with Canadian Indigenous scholarship covering 100% of tuition, meal plan, and accommodation costs.

Requirements

This residency is for individual artists or duos (of no more than two collaborators) who have completed formal training in visual arts at the post-secondary level, or have equivalent experience and recognition from their peers acquired through traditional knowledge and practices. Applicants must be 18+ at the time of the program start date. Domestic and international applications are welcome, though applicants must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada as Banff Centre programs do not meet Canadian Student Visa eligibility. Priority will be given to artists who have not attended a Visual Arts residency at Banff Centre in the past three years. Children are not permitted in visual arts studios or production areas. Applicants are required to have foundational knowledge of the equipment and techniques they intend to use. The program requires participation over the entire six-week period.

How to Apply

To apply, complete the online form, pay the application fee, and then upload your materials via SlideRoom. Required materials include a two-page resume or C.V., a 250-word artist statement describing your intentions for the program, a 500-word project proposal detailing your conceptual framework and execution plan, a resource request outlining required studio, equipment, software, facility, or staff support, and 6-10 samples of your artistic work. Complete the Financial Aid question in SlideRoom to be eligible for financial assistance. Collaborative groups (max two) should submit one application form, pay one $65 processing fee, and one SlideRoom application.