Media and Visual Arts short-term training courses and workshops provided concentrated career-related learning opportunities for artists, technicians and other cultural workers. Most courses were designed for self-employed people with limited time, who needed to upgrade their practical skills in a particular hardware or software application for them to earn more of their living directly from their art practice.

Courses were designed as stand-alone learning opportunities. Participants were encouraged, however, to attend one or more courses to upgrade their skills in preparation for application to longer Banff Centre work study/practicum programs.

Participants were also able to combine courses with production opportunities, through a self-directed residency in Media and Visual Arts. After completing a course, artists could work in the Centre’s studios and facilities and put their new skills to immediate use in their work.

At the time of Surfing the Net for Fun and Profit course (with instructor Douglas Smith), the world of Internet was opening up and business was discovering the advantages of having an online presence. Participants learned how they can find work, find employees, market their services or products, and attract a clientele through this exciting new electronic communication medium. They learned what was being done to facilitate cash transactions and protect confidentiality in the free-wheeling arena of Cyberspace. This course explored the easy point and click environment that makes exploring the Net via a World Wide Web browser interesting and accessible with little or no computer knowledge necessary. An experienced instructor served to guide participants, making their online time as productive as possible. Participants found out: where the action is in the online business world; who is looking for what types of employees and where they are looking; the do’s and don’ts or acceptable marketing in Cyberspace; what kinds of business opportunities exist out there; and how their business can profit from an online presence. Prerequisite: Some Macintosh experience helpful, users with or without their own accounts were welcome.