Supporting Innovative Thinking

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development.

Facilities at Glyde Hall, Photo by Rita Taylor.

History of Arts Programming

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.

We invite you to enjoy a walk through time in these program histories pages, and/or to visit our general history page for an overview and timeline of our past accomplishments.

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For any questions related to archives and/or to conduct further research please contact: archives@banffcentre.ca

Brief Histories

A Brief History of Visual Arts

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has been training artists since 1933 in the Canadian Rockies, and has offered Visual Arts programs since 1935.

A Brief History of Literary Arts

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has offered writing programs since 1937 when playwriting was introduced into the Theatre Arts program.

A Brief History of Music

Eight decades of music-making in the Canadian Rockies.

A Brief History of Dance

Banff Centre Dance programs have enjoyed the guidance of several outstanding and forward-looking members of the Canadian dance community.

A Brief History of Jazz and Creative Music

Jazz programs at Banff Centre started in 1974 when Oscar Peterson and Phil Nimmons were invited to spearhead a jazz workshop.

A Brief History of Theatre

Our department has been around since the 1930s — in fact, drama was the first course ever offered at Banff Centre.
Woman stands before three wall sized screens

A Brief History of the Banff New Media Institute

A brief history of the Banff New Media Institute

A Brief History of Music

Eight decades of music-making in the Canadian Rockies.

A Brief History of Opera

Banff Centre has been training artists since 1933 in the Canadian Rockies. The opera program was founded in 1949.
Photo of faculty and participants at 1984 Playwrights Colony

A Brief History of the Banff Playwrights Lab

Started in the 1970s, the Banff Centre's Playwrights Lab helps theatre artists develop new works in a focused environment.