The Application and Payment systems will be closed from December 19 - January 5 during the Institutional Holiday Closure. SlideRoom (Step 3) will remain open for portfolio submissions.
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Barbara Spohr, title unknown (unknown date). C-print, 40.3 cm x 50.6 cm.
Created by the friends and family of the late artist Barbara Spohr, the Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography encourages the development of Canadian contemporary photography by providing financial and creative assistance to a mid-career artist making a compelling contribution to the field.
This annual award supports one mid-career Canadian artist (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) working in photography to undertake a fully funded residency in the Banff Centre Crich Studio. This competitive program supports independent research, creative exploration, and project development.
During this month-long self-directed residency, the award winner will have:
In preparation for the residency, the award winner should anticipate bringing all supplies needed for their project. Please note that limited darkroom supplies are available for purchase. You will also be responsible for the proper disposal of used/exhausted chemistry.
This residency is designed to support independent, self-directed work. Technical support is available from Banff Centre’s photography facilitator; however, production support and access to specialized facilities is limited. There is no access to other visual arts production studios.
This residency is designed for participation over the entire program period. Variable dates will not be considered.
Applications are open to Canadian mid-career photo-based artists with a strong exhibition record. The Barbara Spohr Memorial Award residency supports independent projects across a broad range of creative photo practices.
For the purposes of this program, mid-career is defined as having:
This award is best suited for those who are:
Applicants should demonstrate proficiency with darkroom processes, with an awareness of safety procedures.
This studio is wheelchair accessible, however the darkroom facilities are not. Please contact us if you require wheelchair accessible accommodation.
Applicants must be 18+ at the time of the program start date.
Previous recipients of the Barbara Spohr Award are not eligible to apply.
Applicants must be Canadian, a Permanent Resident, or eligible under the terms of the Jay Treaty.
We welcome applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply. Artists from historically underrepresented and equity deserving groups are especially welcome.
The meal plan is equivalent to $68 credit per day.
Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay at any of our food outlets. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Create in the privacy of one of our specialized studios.
A travel bursary is also included. Regional maximums apply. The recipient must book their own travel.
Material support of up to $1,000 CAD in supplies is included.
All materials will be purchased directly by Banff Centre; no cash will be provided.
This program offers opportunities to showcase your work-in-progress.
The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives are delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty
$35 for individuals.
The application fee is non-refundable. 100% of this fee goes towards the cost of administering the application in SlideRoom.
Explore additional ways to fund your experience by reviewing our curated list of national and international opportunities here.
Information on our cancellation policy can be found here.
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. You will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Please login with the username and password emailed to you on completion of step 1.
A two-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience.
The artist statement will act as an introduction to your practice as a whole, and what impact this award would have on your practice. Maximum 1-2 paragraphs, or approximately 500 words.
Provide a 500-word description of your proposed project, including the theme, an outline of materials and facilities that may be required, and a breakdown of timelines. These summaries will be used as a narrative for administrative and public use.
Outline all studio, equipment, software, facility, or staff support required for your project. Final resource allocation is at the discretion of the department. This form can be found in the SlideRoom portion of the application.
Please upload one PDF file with up to 10 samples of your artistic work with captions for each image.
Participants are chosen by an adjudication panel comprising of internal and external assessors. The selection criteria include:
Our programs are highly competitive with a limited number of places available. Applicants will be notified of their selection status as soon as the adjudication process is complete. Due to the high volume of applications individual feedback will not be provided.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
