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A Writer's Paradise

Hone your skills and develop work with expert faculty in contemporary literature.

Nolan Natasha, Winter Writers Residency 2024. Photo by Rita Taylor.

Literary Arts

Push your creative boundaries

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.

If you wish to stay informed about our upcoming programs and Banff Centre news, please subscribe to our newsletter. 

Our upcoming offerings

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

Programs
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Program faculty Rhonda Mullins, Santiago Artozqui, Cole Swensen, Chris Clarke
Residency
Program Dates February 09, 2026 - February 20, 2026

Contemporary French Literature

This residency allows contemporary French writers working across genre to explore craft, voice and workshop their manuscripts with exceptional faculty.
Application Deadline
September 24, 2025
View Program
Eden Robinson, Vidyan Ravinthiran, and Nicole Sealey
Residency
Program Dates March 16, 2026 - March 27, 2026

Spring Writers Residency

This self-directed program offers time and space for writers to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application Deadline
October 15, 2025
View Program
Phillip Terry, Jessica Westhead, and Sawako Nakayasu
Residency
Program Dates April 13, 2026 - April 24, 2026

Late Spring Writers Residency 2026

This self-directed program offers time and space for writers to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application Deadline
November 05, 2025
View Program
Dr. Cheryl Thompson, Manjula Martin, and Shawn Micallef
Residency
Program Dates June 01, 2026 - June 19, 2026

Literary Journalism 2026

This residency gives writers of non-fiction time to work on their manuscripts, have individual consultations with faculty, and participate in workshops.
Application Deadline
December 10, 2025
View Program
Summer Writers faculty Jordan Abel, Adam Dickinson, and Dodie Bellamy
Residency
Program Dates July 06, 2026 - July 17, 2026

Summer Writers 2026

This self-directed program offers writers time and space to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application Deadline
January 14, 2026
View Program
Program faculty David Heska Wambli Weiden, Wayne Arthurson, and Nita Prose
Residency
Program Dates August 17, 2026 - August 28, 2026

Crime Writing 2026

This is a self-directed residency offering time and space for writers to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application Deadline
February 18, 2026
View Program
Faculty for the Computational Writing Residency
Residency
Program Dates September 07, 2026 - September 18, 2026

Computational Writing 2026

Explore the intersection of computing and literary art, not only by using pre-developed tools but also by directly undertaking programming.
Application Deadline
March 11, 2026
View Program
Dave Bidini, Morgan Campbell, and Mirin Fader
Residency
Program Dates October 05, 2026 - October 16, 2026

Sports Writing 2026

This residency gives sports writers and journalists time to work on their manuscripts, have individual consultations with faculty, and participate in workshops.
Application Deadline
April 08, 2026
View Program
Program faculty Catriona Strang, Douglas Kearney, and Eric Sneathen
Residency
Program Dates August 18, 2025 - August 29, 2025

Summer Writers 2025

This self-directed program offers writers time and space to reconnect and re-energize their practice.
Application deadline has passed
View Program
Ai Jiang, Premee Mohamed, Amal El-Mohtar
Residency
Program Dates September 08, 2025 - September 19, 2025

Science Fiction 2025

This residency supports science fiction writers exploring potential futures, perspectives, and narratives.
Application deadline has passed
View Program
Bishakh Som, Matt Madden, and Tom Hart
Residency
Program Dates October 06, 2025 - October 17, 2025

Comics and Graphic Novels 2025

The Comics and Graphic Novels residency considers how creatives use this unique media as a place for personal narrative, memoir, and exploration.
Application deadline has passed
View Program
Jen Ferguson, Tanya Boteju and Jordan Scott
Residency
Program Dates November 24, 2025 - December 05, 2025

Early Career Writers of Young Adult and Children's Books 2025

New writers of young adult and children's books will expand upon their practice in this 12-day, self-directed residency.
Application deadline has passed
View Program
Deep Winter Writers faculty Holly Pester, Nasser Hussain, and Divya Victor
Residency
Program Dates January 12, 2026 - January 30, 2026

Deep Winter Writers 2026

Deep Winter Writers Residency is a self-directed program that offers time and space for writers to retreat, reconnect, and re-energize their writing practice.
Application deadline has passed
View Program

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

Banff Centre Newsletter Signup

Literary Arts Team

Derek Beaulieu

Derek Beaulieu

Director of Literary Arts

Dr. Derek Beaulieu is the author/editor of over twenty-five collections of poetry, prose, and criticism. His most recent volume of poetry, Surface Tension, was published by Coach House Books and his latest book of criticism, Do It Wrong, is forthcoming from Assembly Press. Beaulieu has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his dedication to Albertan literature and CCWWP Robert Kroetsch Award for excellence in innovative pedagogy and teaching practice. He is the only graduate from the University of Calgary’s Department of English to receive the Faculty of Arts ‘Celebrated Alumni Award’ and the only graduate in creative writing to receive Roehampton University’s Chancellor’s Alumni Award. Beaulieu has served as Poet Laureate of both Calgary and Banff and is the Director of Literary Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. 

He can be found online at www.derekbeaulieu.ca.

Madeline McCaffrey

Madeline McCaffrey

Program Manager

Madeline McCaffrey is the Program Manager for Literary Arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, where she develops and oversees residency programs and events designed to support writers at all stages of their careers. She works closely with faculty and the Centre’s resources to create opportunities for literary exploration, community building, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Prior to joining Banff Centre, Madeline worked with leading Canadian arts organizations including the Association of Canadian Publishers, the Toronto International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre, Campbell House Museum, and Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall. She has contributed to some of the largest literary events in Canada, including Toronto Lit Up, Word on the Street, Forest of Reading: Festival of Trees, TIFA, Common Readings, and Book Summit, and has managed programs such as Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom and 49th Shelf. Her professional background spans published works, curatorial projects, advocacy initiatives, fundraising, and literary arts programming supporting both emerging and established voices. 

When she’s not helping writers settle into the mountains, you might spot Madeline on a multi day hike with a questionably heavy backpack - because she forgot to charge her Kindle, again.

Literary Arts Stories

Director of Literary Arts Derek Beaulieu

Director of Literary Arts and Poet Laureate Derek Beaulieu Awarded Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal

Director of Literary Arts and Poet Laureate Derek Beaulieu Awarded Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal
Read more

Contact Us

For questions about the department and what we offer, please contact:

Email: arts_info@banffcentre.ca
Phone: 403.762.6180


Phone (Main Switchboard)
403.762.6100

Address
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
PO Box 1020
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5

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We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Metis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.