"I commend The Banff Centre for creating this unique opportunity for translators to exercise their important craft," says Griffin. "The Banff International Literary Translation Centre will help us share new Canadian works with readers from across the world, and bring poetry and fiction from other countries to Canada."

"Mr. Griffin’s support of the Banff International Literary Translation Centre testifies to the importance of this undertaking, and we are proud to have him on board," says Joanne Morrow, senior vice-president for Programming at The Banff Centre.

Inspired by literary translation centres in Europe, the BILTC is the first of its kind in North America. The inaugural three-week residency runs from August 17 to September 6, 2003 and will provide literary translators a unique opportunity to work on a current project within an international community of translators.

The BILTC is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Through initiatives such as this one, The Banff Centre is continuing to leverage public and private philanthropic partnerships to create important new opportunities for artists.