Banff Centre is __________.

No two artists are the same, and neither are their experiences at Banff Centre. Discover what Banff Centre means to these artists. Then find out what it means to you. 

Artist Carmen Aguirre poses in a colourful forest in the fall.

Carmen Aguirre, Playwright, Actor and Author

Carmen was born in Santiago, Chile. She has been attending Banff Centre’s Playwrights Lab since 2002, and has developed five plays over multiple...
Crystal explores a forest trail.

Crystal Pite, Choreographer and Artistic Director

Crystal Pite first attended Banff Centre as an inspiring dancer when she was just 16. Over the course of three decades, Crystal has been to Banff...
artist iskwē poses in front of a river forest landscape.

iskwē, Songwriter & Performer

iskwē was born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory. In 2016 she launched her breakthrough album The Fight Within—and was nominated for a Juno Award...
Kate Harris sits in a snow covered tree.

Kate Harris, Author & Explorer

During trips to Antarctica, Mongolia and Borneo, Kate started writing as a way to express both the awe and confusion of being in a totally foreign...
Jean Grand-Maître walks along a snow covered river.

Jean Grand-Maître, Artistic Director, Alberta Ballet

For a Quebecer who grew up near the nation's capital, Jean never imagined he'd find himself as the Artistic Director of a dance company in Western...
Musician Barry Shiffman standing on a rock in nature playing violin.

Barry Shiffman, Director of BISQC, Renowned Violinist and Violist

As director of the Banff International String Quartet Competition, Barry is proud to share his passion for the art form with emerging artists and...
Banff Centre donor walking through campus with Cascade in the background.

Jenny Belzberg, Community Builder and Philanthropist

Mrs. Belzberg has a fierce pride in Alberta, and the ongoing role that Canada’s West plays in shaping and supporting artists from across Canada...
Marcus Youssef sitting on a rock in nature

Marcus Youssef, Artistic Director and Playwright

As the artistic director of Vancouver's Neworld Theatre, Marcus Youssef is used to taking risks. And by pushing the boundaries of what can happen...
Artist Joel Ivany walking through a lush forest.

Joel Ivany, Director of Opera

Joel Ivany is an arts innovator and the multi-award-winning artistic director of opera at Banff Centre. He first took part in an opera residency...
Artist Brian Jungen looking into the distance surrounded by a forest.

Brian Jungen, Artist

Brian Jungen arrived at Banff Centre with nothing but a sketchbook and an idea. Having never worked with sculpture before, he took advantage of...
Sean McCann poses with guitar in front of a forest with a river.

Séan McCann, Singer-songwriter

Séan McCann played guitar in the iconic Canadian band, Great Big Sea for 20 years. but it wasn't until he did an artist's residency at...
Photo of a female artist overlooking a nature filled landscape.

Reneltta Arluk, Director of Indigenous Arts

Reneltta Arluk has been a storyteller her whole life. Finding theatre at 19 broadened the way she tells those stories. Now she's helping other...