Independent Residency: Music 27/28

Overview

This is your time for uninterrupted space to start or advance your project in our music studios. Ideal for solo creators or small to medium sized ensembles, it provides the time and freedom to make noise, and focus deeply on your work.

Open to musicians, performers, composers and interdisciplinary collaborators - these residencies welcome you to explore, experiment, and create new work. With access to rehearsal spaces and large instruments that cannot travel, you’ll have the freedom to shape your work independently, designing your own creative process without structured programming or mentorship, in the solitude of Banff Centre’s inspiring mountain setting.

Description

Ideal for bold, self-directed artists and collectives whose projects need space or sound in a traditional rehearsal studio. Perfect for:

• Music: composition, research
• Opera: composition, research
• Interdisciplinary: hybrid or genre-defying work

Residencies include a private rehearsal studio equipped for music-based practices and will be allocated according to need. Studios features may include:

• Small PA system
• Tables, chairs
• Piano and instruments to large to travel (based on availability)
• Self-recording equipment upon request (based on availability)

Professional recording may be available in our recording studio or performance spaces, pending availability. This would incur a separate fee. If interested, please indicate as such in your application, your preferred recording date, and a brief outline of the project scope.

Dates

Residencies are minimum of 1 week and up to 2 weeks in length, running Monday through Friday. Longer residencies may be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to availability. Participants arrive on the Sunday before the residency begins and depart on the Saturday after. 

As part of the application, you will be asked to identify your preferred residency dates from within the available date ranges listed below. Please select dates that align with your availability and project timeline.

Available date ranges:

• April 5 – April 16, 2027
• May 10 – May 21, 2027
• July 26 – August 6, 2027
• September 6 – November 26, 2027
• March 6 – March 31, 2028

Residency dates and studio assignments are determined based on studio availability, technical requirements, and Banff Centre’s ability to support the specific needs of each project.

Important: Residency dates are confirmed at the time of acceptance and are final. Once assigned, dates cannot be changed, deferred, or rescheduled. Please only select date windows and start dates for which you are fully available to attend.

Requirements

We welcome applications from creative professionals and collectives at all career stages who:

• Have a demonstrated record of accomplishment
• Have a clearly articulated project ready for focused development which fits within the footprint of a Banff Centre music studio
• Can work independently without mentorship, production or tech support
• Bring their own equipment and materials
• Collaborative groups of up to 6 people can apply

If your project requires production facilities, technical support, or mentorship, please consider applying to one of our faculty-led artist in residence programs in Music. If you are looking for a non-traditional rehearsal studio please consider the Leighton Artist Studio.

Eligibility

Applicants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date. 

Banff Centre welcomes applications from both domestic and international applicants for our program.

Visa Eligibility Information: Canadian Student Visa Not Eligible: Please note that Banff Centre programs do not meet the eligibility requirements for a Canadian Student Visa. If you are accepted into our program, you must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada. Accepted participants are responsible for identifying and complying with the immigration requirements to enter Canada as a visitor from their country of origin. If you require a Visitor Visa please check the current expected processing times well in advance of applying.

Inclusivity Statement

We welcome artists of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply. Artists from historically underrepresented and equity deserving groups are especially welcome.