Leighton Artist Studios and Independent Residencies FAQ's

Leighton Artist Studio residencies for solos and groups welcome artists and creative professionals across a wide range of disciplines, including: 

• Design: architectural, environmental, interactive, visual, functional, and fashion
• Music: composition and songwriting
• Theatre Arts: dramaturgy, playwriting, and theatrical development
• Visual Arts: curatorial research/writing, drawing, painting, digital art, and multimedia
• Writing: literature, poetry, non-fiction, journalism, and screenwriting
• Interdisciplinary Projects: work integrating multiple creative disciplines

Leighton Artist Studio Residency: Photography best supports projects involving:

• Black and white analogue photography (Film development, processing, and printing)
• Digital photography
• Some alternative processes (cyanotype)

Independent Residencies in Theatre, Dance & Music support independent projects from people working in:

• Dance: choreography, staging, conceptual research
• Theatre Arts: dramaturgy, playwriting, and theatrical development
• Opera: composition, performance
• Musicians: soloists, ensembles, bands
• Composers, songwriters
• Researchers
• Interdisciplinary Projects: work integrating multiple of the above creative disciplines

• Leighton Artist Studios (except Crich) are located in a forested area of Banff Centre campus, accessible along a gravel pathway. The studios are your workspace only.
• The Crich Photography Studio is located in the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed building.
• Independent Residencies are located on Banff Centre’s campus in buildings that are specific to your artistic discipline, whether a traditional dance studio or a music rehearsal studio. Studios are assigned based on the facilities' ability to support your project needs. The Studios are a workspace only.

You will have a guestroom in one of our two on-campus hotels. The Professional Development Centre, which has our 24-hour Front Desk staff, and Lloyd Hall are hotels that provide you with a private room during your residency at Banff Centre.

Attending a Leighton or Independent Residency means you create your schedule.

Your time is your own for research, ideation and creation – in whatever form that takes. Use the residency in the way that best supports your practice: immerse yourself deeply in a project, explore new ideas and directions, or embrace opportunities that spark inspiration and creative growth.

Bring any and all materials, equipment and supplies you will need for your project. The town of Banff and nearby Canmore do not have art supply stores or instrument rentals. Calgary is a 90min drive away. Please ship materials in advance to ensure they arrive on time for your residency dates.

Instruments to large too travel can be requested to loan for Independent residencies. Loans are based on a technical assessment and availability. 

Banff Centre is located on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain and is about a 15-minute walk into town. The town of Banff has grocery stores, restaurants and other activities available to you that we encourage you to visit and explore as a part of your time in the Bow Valley.