Banff Centre’s Literary Arts programs provide an inspiring space and focused time for emerging and established writers to push the boundaries of their talent and realize their potential. Our programs prepare writers in all genres for literary success on a national and international scale.
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Banff Centre's 2025/26 season of Literary Arts offerings consists of nine residencies each focusing on new and dynamic areas of international writing: Horror Writing, Literary Journalism / Creative Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Comics and Graphic Novels, Early Career Writers of Young Adult and Children’s Books, Contemporary French Writing, and new forms in fiction and poetry offered seasonally from our campus on the side of Sleeping Buffalo Mountain.
Our residencies build community and conversation, mentorship, and professional development— all in the service of supporting national and international authors achieve their writing goals. Each residency features mentors and professional guests who bring the best in contemporary practice, and who are consistently recognized for modelling encouragement alongside their own internationally-recognized writing.
Banff Centre remains dedicated to supporting the best in new prose writing, poetry, journalism, memoir, and translation with those topics reflected in our ever-evolving offerings.
Dr. Derek Beaulieu
Director, Literary Arts
This was the first artist residency I’ve ever attended, and I don’t know if I’ll have many other experiences in my writing career that compare to this one. I learned so much from the faculty and my peers, and the feedback I received from both was invaluable to my process. Over two weeks, I went from feeling embarrassingly underprepared about my project to having near-complete clarity and confidence in my artistic vision for this novel, one I hope to publish and share one day.
Bree Taylor, Writers in Residence - Horror Writers
For questions about the department and what we offer, please contact:
Email: arts_info@banffcentre.ca
Phone: 403.762.6180