Banff Centre partners with the Scotiabank Giller Prize to celebrate excellence in Canadian literature

BANFF, AB, November 2, 2015 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is proud to celebrate excellence in Canadian literature by partnering with the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Canada’s richest literary award for fiction. In addition to the largest purse for literature in the country, the winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize will be given an opportunity to explore, expand, and develop their practice during a two-week, self-directed residency in Banff Centre’s exclusive Leighton Artists’ Colony.

“Banff Centre has traditionally been a rite of passage for many laureates of the Scotiabank Giller Prize. We are thrilled to partner with the prize, which shares our goal of celebrating and advancing great Canadian literature, by providing this residency,” said Carolyn Warren, vice-president, Arts at Banff Centre. “We look forward to welcoming the finest in Canadian literary talent each year to our campus in the stunning Rocky Mountains.”

Located in a secluded, wooded area on Banff Centre campus, the Leighton Artists’ Colony offers serene forest views and thoughtfully designed studio spaces ideal for creativity and intense productivity. There, writers can delve into their work alone or find inspiration as part of the larger artistic community at Banff Centre.

“We couldn’t be happier to support Banff Centre’s mission to provide artists with a unique space to hone and practice their craft,” said Elana Rabinovitch, executive director of the Scotiabank Giller Prize. “We’re delighted to offer the Scotiabank Giller Prize winner this special opportunity in one of the world’s most inspiring places.”

Many past Scotiabank Giller Prize winners have visited Banff Centre as faculty and guests including Margaret Atwood, Joseph Boyden, Michael Ondaatje, Elizabeth Hay and Sean Michaels, author of Us Conductors (Random House Canada) and winner of the 2014 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Established in 1994 by Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller, the Scotiabank Giller Prize recognizes excellence in Canadian fiction through an endowed cash prize annually of $100,000, with an additional $10,000 going to each finalist. The 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize award ceremony, hosted by Rick Mercer, will air on CBC Television Tuesday, November 10 at 9 p.m. (10 AT/10:30 NT), and will be live-streamed from cbcbooks.ca.

For more information about the Scotiabank Giller Prize, visit scotiabankgillerprize.ca. To learn about Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony, visit banffcentre.ca

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity:  Founded in 1933, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become the global organization leading in arts, culture, and creativity across dozens of disciplines. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to society through cross-disciplinary learning opportunities, world-class performances, and public outreach. www.banffcentre.ca 

About the Scotiabank Giller Prize: The Scotiabank Giller Prize strives to highlight the very best in Canadian fiction year after year. The prize awards $100,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection published in English and $10,000 to each of the finalists. The award is named in honour of the late literary journalist Doris Giller and was founded in 1994 by her husband, Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch. www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca