Leighton Artists Studios Directory

As Canada’s leading post-graduate arts institution, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity offers intensive training and career development programs for artists and leaders.

Banff Centre is located on Treaty 7 Territory. We acknowledge the past, present, and future generations of Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, and Tsuut’ina Nations who help us steward this sacred and protected land, as well as honour and celebrate this place. This is one of the reasons why you see the welcome on the top of this page and throughout campus in English, French, and the languages of the Indigenous Nations who have shared this land for generations.

Please enjoy your time at Banff Centre and take a moment to enjoy the beauty of Banff National Park and the exceptional artistic activities that take place on our campus. Whether it be a visit to our contemporary art gallery Walter Phillips Gallery or an evening performance, talk, or concert, you’ll be guaranteed to leave inspired and creatively refreshed.

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is supported by funding from the Government of Alberta through Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education, Alberta Infrastructure, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Arts programs are supported by funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canada Arts Training Fund. The experience at Banff Centre is also enriched through generous support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

In 1883, as the transcontinental railway reached the Canadian Rocky Mountains, railway workers stumbled upon hot springs first discovered by Indigenous peoples. This led to the area being declared Canada’s first national park in 1885.

Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world’s most spectacular destinations. On its 100th anniversary, Banff was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

Banff is 1,397 metres (4,540 feet) above sea level. If you are not used to the elevation, or if you have a respiratory condition, you may experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and/or dizziness. It may take a few days to acclimatize.

Banff National Park is home to 53 species of mammals including deer, elk, black and grizzly bears, coyotes, wolves, and cougars. All of these animals are wild, and should not be approached or fed.

Elk
Each year, a number of visitors and locals are injured by elk. In early fall, September through October, elk mating season is underway. Male elk are aggressive at this time of year and may charge without warning. In spring/summer, May through July, elk calving season is underway. Female elk aggressively protect their young and may charge. Always stay at least 50 metres (35 yards) away from elk.

Signs of elk aggression:

• Head held high
• Teeth exposed
• Looking directly at you with whites of eyes showing
• Ears back
• Some aggressive elk have been ear-tagged or marked with a paint ball on the hip or shoulder. 
• Aggressive elk may charge. If charged, get behind a tree or any large object.
   

Bears
Bear attacks are uncommon. Both black bears and grizzly bears are seen in and around Banff. Wild animals generally prefer to avoid people and bears are no exception. Here are some basics on how to avoid an encounter:

• Use officially marked paths and trails, and travel during daylight hours. Travel in groups if possible and never let children wander. 
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears.
• Make noise! Let bears know you’re there. Call out, clap hands, sing or talk loudly, especially near streams, dense vegetation, and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility.
• Watch for fresh bear signs. Tracks, droppings, diggings, torn-up logs, and turned-over rocks are all signs that a bear has been in the area. Leave the area if the signs are fresh. If you come across large dead animals, leave the area immediately and report it to Park Wardens.

Information courtesy of Parks Canada. For more information about wildlife, visit the Parks Canada website, pc.gc.ca. For general information from the Banff Park Warden Service, call 403.762.1470.

Located in a beautiful, secluded, wooded area on Banff Centre campus, the Leighton Artists Studios inspire and accommodate creative practice.

With serene forest views and thoughtfully designed interiors, the Studios offer an environment that is intense and stimulating; a location free of daily pressure and distraction; an ideal space for creativity and intense productivity.

The Leighton Artists Studios offer artists the ability to delve into their work as a solitary retreat, as well as the option to engage within Banff Centre's larger artistic community. The Leighton Artists Studios are home to nine distinct studios, appealing to a variety of disciplines: writing, composing, singer-songwriting, visual arts, screenwriting, playwriting, literary translating, curating, art theory, and conceptualization of a project.

The eight original studios were each named for the distinguished Canadian architects who designed them, including: Douglas Cardinal, Ian Davidson, Michael Evamy, Peter Hemingway, Richard Henriquez, Guy Gerin-Lajoie, Ron Thom, and Fred Valentine. In 2009, the addition of the Painter House expanded the capacity of the studios to offer a place for a group of artists to engage in a retreat for collaborative work.

Writers may prefer the Hemingway, Henriquez, or Evamy studios. Composers may prefer the Valentine, Davidson, or Cardinal studios. Visual Artists may prefer the Thom or Gerin-Lajoie studios. Collaborative groups are best suited for residencies in the Painter House.

Some famous alumni of the Studios include: Daniel MacIvor, John Adams, Ken Lum, Jonathan Dove, Yann Martel, k.d. Lang, Lawrence Hill, and Joni Mitchell.

Named after the designer Peter Hemingway, this studio's design is influenced by Haida architecture. Its floor plan is circular with a roof-line that rises in a conical shape, held aloft by 12 wooden columns. It is built primarily of cedar and pine. The west wall is an arced "light-wall": this floor to ceiling pane window, 3.7 metres long, serves as the primary source of natural light in the studio. Built into the middle of this windowed area is a glass door leading out onto a large, private balcony.

Floor dimensions:
6 metres diameter 

The Hemingway Studio amenities include:
6’ motorized live-edge standing desk in walnut wood
Second live-edge console desk in acacia wood
55” 4k curved, wall-mounted TV monitor with cablevision
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Microwave
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Small lounge area
Wireless printer
Spacious storage closet
Privacy drapes

Learn More

Named after the designer Fred Valentine, this studio was designed as a composer's studio and contains a grand piano. It is also suitable for work in other disciplines. Needs for privacy, acoustic reverb control (through a retractable, multifunctional greenscreen curtain) and natural light are all fulfilled. Valentine Studio is a "cathedral" space that enhances the sound of instruments, and the predominant use of wood for construction material adds to the acoustic quality of the studio.

Floor dimensions:
4.8 metres wide x 7.3 metres long

The Valentine Studio amenities include:
6’ motorized live-edge standing desk in walnut wood
Mason & Hamlin grand piano (model A, 5’8”)
Small lounge area
Microwave
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
10’ x 13’ greenscreen on a simple curtain track
Wireless printer

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Named after designer Richard Henriquez the inspiration for this playful "studio in a boat" was derived from the desire to create a link with the past by bringing an artifact to Banff that has a history of its own. The studio is in an old, refurbished fishing boat called the Elsie K, about 10 metres long. Its exterior has been restored to its original lines, while the interior has been refitted to fulfill the functional needs of an artist: a small galley for snacks, a bunk area, and a washroom under the bow.

Floor dimensions:
2.5 metres wide x 10 metres long 

The Henriquez Studio amenities include:
Built-in worktable / desk
Microwave
Small lounge area
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Small pull-out bunk
Wireless printer

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Named after the designer Michael Evamy, this "glass crystal" studio sits in a small clearing surrounded by a forest of spruce and pine, facing a gently sloping ridge that forms the wall of a small ravine. The studio offers views along the forest floor. There are skylights overhead and windows in each wall. Each corner is glazed and opened to the sky with a diamond skylight. The balanced use of glass and cedar, juxtaposed with ridge and trees, creates an open but private workspace.

Floor dimensions:

5.4 metres wide x 4.5 metres long 

The Evamy Studio amenities include:
6’ motorized live-edge standing desk in walnut wood
Second live-edge console desk in acacia wood
Microwave
Small lounge area
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
10’ x 13’ greenscreen on a simple curtain track
Wireless printer
Privacy drapes

Learn More

Named after designer Ian Davidson, this star-shaped studio provides maximum visual and acoustic privacy and contains a Steinway baby grand piano. It has a multi-faced structure, with a pyramid-shaped ceiling mounted by acoustic panels. The north side of the studio is windowless, both for privacy and energy conservation. The south side has large windows and a private outdoor deck, which add to the feeling of freedom and openness. Construction materials are almost entirely of wood.

Floor dimensions:

5.4 metres wide x 5.4 metres long

The Davidson Studio amenities include:
5’3”w motorized standing desk
Second live-edge console desk in acacia wood
Steinway grand piano (model A, 6’2”)
Yamaha P-515 88-key digital piano w/speakers, three pedals
Small lounge area
Microwave
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
10’ x 13’ greenscreen on a simple curtain track
Wireless printer
Yoga mat

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Named after the studio’s designer, Rob Thom, the configuration for this visual art studio is simple and open to allow the greatest degree of flexibility in the arrangement of working components. Large skylights (north-oriented) offer plenty of natural light, supplemented by warm LED studio lighting on adjustable tracks. Interior walls are gyproc on 2 cm. plywood for hanging work with tacks or masking tape.

Floor dimensions: 
5.8 meters wide x 5.4 metres long 

The Thom Studio amenities include:
5’3”w motorized standing desk
Second live-edge console desk in acacia wood
96” x 36” manually adjustable height workbench in birchwood
Two 72” x 30” folding work tables, black plastic
Basic easel
Lounge area
Microwave
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Wireless printer
Portable, short-throw video projector
Six-tier rolling wire shelf unit
8’ stepladder

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Named after the studio’s designer, celebrated architect Douglas Cardinal, the design for this studio takes the form of a nautilus shell. Thick cedar-log walls and the absence of windows along the outdoor pathway shut out external noise and disperse internal sounds. The introverted exterior design discourages inquisitive visitors. A large window and outdoor deck, facing the mountains and forest, provide an uninterrupted view. The studio contains a digital piano.

Floor dimensions:

4.5 metres wide x 7.3 metres long

The Cardinal Studio amenities include:
5’3”w motorized standing desk
Small built-in console desk
Yamaha P-515 88-key digital piano w/speakers, three pedals
Small lounge area
Microwave
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Wireless printer

Learn More

Named after the designer Guy Gerin-Lajoie, this bright studio was originally designed for visual artists and is now used for a wide range of projects. A stepped roof-line harmonizes with the rock formation of the surrounding mountains. The work area provides large walls and open space suitable for hanging work. A large horizontal window at the ceiling provides a view and a feeling of openness. The loading bay area and lounge windows can be covered by rolling, white wall units.

Floor dimensions:

5.4 metres wide x 11.5 metres long 

The Gerin-Lajoie Studio amenities include:
5’3”w motorized standing desk
96” x 36” manually adjustable height workbench in birch wood
Two 72” x 30” folding work tables, black plastic
Basic drafting table 20’ X 10’ retractable greenscreen, fabric
Video projector mounted to trussing
Basic easel
Lounge area
Microwave
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Wireless printer
Portable, short-throw video projector
Six-tier rolling wire shelf unit
8’ stepladder

Learn More

Named after the celebrated architect who designed it, Walter Painter (creator of the nearby Banff Springs Hotel and the Cave and Basin Hot Springs Bathhouse), the Painter House is a converted character home that provides opportunities for established artists to work in a spacious studio setting, or for a group of artists to work collaboratively on readings, composition, discussion, rehearsal or performance. Painter House contains at least eight desk stations in multiple rooms on two floors, a large lounge adjoining a large kitchen with microwave, two dining rooms, two restrooms, and a large sitting room with a grand piano.

The Painter House amenities include:
Eight desk stations in five rooms
Kawai grand piano (model KG-2C, 5’10”)
Rolling media cart with 50” HD screen, speakers, DVD player, cabling etc
Large sitting room
Large lounge area
Large kitchen with microwave (no other kitchen appliances)
Two dining rooms
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Wireless printer
Six-string acoustic guitar
Private, wraparound patio

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Named after nature photographer Vic Crich, this unique studio sits apart from the rest of the Leighton Artists Studios, in the vibrant and media-rich environment of the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building. This studio offers stunning views of the Bourgeau Mountain range, with ample table space and black-out blinds for media and photography work. This studio also has an attached, private and fully-functioning dark room, and is adjacent to a vast rooftop patio.

Floor dimensions: 
3.14 metres wide x 7.62 metres long (main studio), 2.53 metres wide x 4 metres long (attached darkroom)

The Crich Studio amenities include:
Fully functioning darkroom
Desktop computer monitor and keyboard
Bluetooth bookshelf speakers
Small lounge areas inside and outside the studio
Small fridge and microwave
Wireless printer
Adjacent rooftop patio

Learn More

Each studio has a private view and is equipped with a washroom, furnishings, and if requested, a computer complete with internet access and printing capabilities.

For any assistance with your studio, please contact the Leighton Coordinator at Leighton_coordinator@banffcentre.ca. For any out-of-hours or urgent maintenance, please contact the front desk, by calling 0 from the phone in your studio. For emergencies, or if help is required going to or heading back from the studio, call Security via the front desk.

We ask that treat your neighbours, as well as our facilities and equipment, with kindness and respect. We’re delighted to have you in residence and hope that you’ll feel at home in your studio.

Smudging
Smudging at Banff Centre occurs across campus, with the exception of the Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation. Should you wish to smudge in your guest room, please advise the front desk who will place signage on your floor. If you choose to smudge in your studio or meeting room, please contact your Program Coordinator who can assist you with signage. This is necessary to reduce incidents of false smoke and fire reports in campus buildings.

Smudge kits are available in each studio. Please contact the Program Coordinator if more supplies are needed.

• Before your residency is complete, your assigned studio must be returned to its original condition. This responsibility is shared by all artists occupying a studio.
• Destruction of studio furniture is forbidden.
• Permanent marker is forbidden for use on studio walls, furniture, etc.
• Drawing/painting directly on studio walls is forbidden unless first approved prior to commencing work.
• Each studio has a humidifier, please leave in the studio and do not take to your bedroom.
• We have provided flashlights and winter weather footwear aids in each studio, please if you remove them please return them before you leave.
• Spills can be cleaned with paper towels; or for major spills, please contact Leighton_coordinator@banffcentre.ca to organize a visit from the custodial team.

• Artists are responsible for cleaning and putting away the dishes they use.  Dish soap and towels are provided. Please clean-up after using the kitchen area.
• Please wipe out the microwave when food spills.
• Keep food in properly sealed and labeled containers and stored in a refrigerator. Artists are discouraged from eating in their studios as it may attract rodents.
• Dispose of food in the garbage bins
• Please remove all food from the refrigerator before you vacate the studio at the end of your residency.
• If you bring any Banff Centre dining room dishes, equipment or supplies into the studio, please return them at the end of your residency, in order to maintain a clutter free studio space for all participants.

The custodial team will clean the studio upon request. Please contact the Program Coordinator to arrange cleaning.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a clean, healthy, and enjoyable studio environment.

Campus Map

Maps of the Banff Centre site, the town of Banff, as well as maps of hiking trails and other attractions, are available at the Front Desk and in the brochure racks in the lobby of the Professional Development Centre and Lloyd Hall.

An ATM (for withdrawals only) is located in the Professional Development Centre lobby. There is another ATM on the ground floor of the Kinnear Centre, adjacent to the Maclab Bistro entrance. There are several banks and currency exchange facilities in the town of Banff.

The Box Office is currently closed for In-Person ticket sales. Please purchase your tickets for all events online or by phone. 

On ticketed performance days, the Box Office will remain open until performance time. If there is a ticketed performance on a Sunday, Monday, or a holiday, the Box Office will open at least two hours prior to the event.

Tickets for Banff Centre events can be purchased:

• Online: banffcentre.ca/events
• By phone: 403.762.6301 (1.800.413.8368 toll-free)
• Email: box_office@banffcentre.ca. A representative will contact you regarding payment. Email orders must be received at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Business Centre: 6148
Professional Development CentreServices are available 24 hours.

Incoming and outgoing fax service is available at the Front Desk. Please enquire about pricing. Incoming faxes are delivered directly to your guest room and are charged to your guest account.

Check-out time is 11 a.m. To facilitate the accommodation of incoming guests, we appreciate your cooperation in vacating your room by this time. Luggage storage is available through the Bell Desk. Call 6148 to arrange.

A variety of courier services are available through the office on-site: 6310 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed weekends and statutory holidays. Call 6310 for information about rates and pick-up times. Office business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed weekends and statutory holidays.

Please help us live responsibly in our mountain environment by recycling glass, aluminum, and paper in the blue recycling bins in your room, and elsewhere on the property. In guest rooms, if you need fresh towels, please place used towels in the bathtub. If you will continue to use your towels, hang them on the racks. Banff Centre’s “no idling policy” states that no vehicles or motorized equipment will be stationary with the engine operating for more than two minutes. The goal is to help reduce fuel consumption and lower the production of greenhouse gases.

Front Desk: 6148
Professional Development Centre
Available 24 hours a day

Housekeeping services: 6275
8:15 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
For after-hours assistance, call zero (0).

If you lose your room key, please ask for a replacement at the Front Desk.

Housekeeping: 6275
Please check your room carefully before departure.

Contact the Front Desk to have your incoming mail or messages delivered. Outgoing mail can be dropped off at the Front Desk. Domestic and international postage stamps are sold at the Front Desk.

To help us make everything perfect during your stay, we’d like to know (as early as possible) of any repairs that are necessary to your accommodations. Please advise the Front Desk of any repairs required.

Complimentary parking is available for all registered guests. Guests are required to register
their vehicle with Front Desk. Park only in designated, long-term parking areas around campus. Parking in front of the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre is a two-hour only zone, which is enforced by the Town of Banff bylaw department. If you are having problems finding parking, please see the Bell Desk or Front Desk for assistance. Banff Centre is not responsible for any tickets incurred by guests parking in “no parking” or “two-hour parking” areas. Banff Centre is not responsible for items left in vehicles on the property.

Banff Centre does not allow pets in the buildings.

Office of the Registrar: 6180
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed on weekends, and statutory holidays.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays): 6308
After hours: 6148

For storage of personal valuables, complimentary safety deposit boxes are available for guests at the Front Desk in the Professional Development Centre. Banff Centre is not responsible for money, jewelry, or other valuables left unattended in guest rooms.

For the health, safety, and comfort of our guests, Banff Centre has designated all bedrooms, balconies, public areas, classrooms, performance spaces, and service areas as non-smoking. Smoking is permitted only in Banff Centre’s designated outdoor smoking areas; please contact the Front Desk for locations. Smudging and sweetgrass ceremonies associated with Banff Centre programs are exempt from the non-smoking policy.

Main telephone number for Banff Centre: 403.762.6100 or zero (0)
Main fax number: 403.762.6444
The switchboard is open 24 hours a day.

For questions regarding tours and activities, contact Front Desk at 6148.

To view a listing of upcoming Banff Centre performances, concerts, and other events, please tune into Banff Centre channels 100.1 and 102.1. If you require assistance locating a channel, call the Front Desk.

If you would like a wake-up call in the morning, contact our switchboard at 403.762.6100 the night before with your room number and the time you wish to be awakened.

Banff Centre’s campus comes to life at Maclab Bistro. With a lively crowd, full-service bar, and eclectic menu, Maclab Bistro is the perfect place to grab a meal with friends or cozy up on the fireside patio. Enjoy stunning panoramic views and healthy, creative comfort food inspired by fresh, local ingredients. Located in the Kinnear Centre.

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Menus

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Calgary International Airport
yyc.com
calgaryairport@yyc.com
403.735.1200

Banff Airporter is the official airport shuttle provider for Banff Centre, providing door-to-door transportation to the Calgary International Airport.

banffairporter.com
403.762.3330

Brewster Airporter is a supporter of Banff Centre and provides shuttle service to and from the Calgary International Airport.

brewster.ca
403.762.6767 or 1.877.266.7292

Banff Transportation Group: 403.762.8400
Brewster Express: 403.762.6700

Avis: 403.762.3222
Enterprise: 403.762.2688
Hertz: 403.762.2027

Event brochures are available in the lobby of the Professional Development Centre, Lloyd Hall, Eric Harvie Theatre, and Margaret Greenham Theatre. For the most up-to-date information, visit banffcentre.ca/events

Professional Development Centre: 78 + room number
Lloyd Hall: 72 + room number
Corbett Hall: 75 + room number
Farally Hall: 750 + room number

There is no charge for Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore.
Call 8 + area code + local number

Call the following for directory assistance:
Local numbers: 8 + 411
Canada/USA: 8 + 1 + area code + 555.1212
International: 8 + 0