Comics and Graphic Novels 2027

Overview  

Banff Centre's Comics and Graphic Novels Residency is a 12-day self-directed residency offering dedicated writing time within Banff Centre’s vibrant literary community. Comic creators receive a personal writing studio in historic Vinci Hall, a lively clubhouse-style home base where writers gather, work, exchange ideas, and build connections. Each writer is paired with an exceptional faculty mentor for weekly one-on-one consultations, with optional access to faculty talks, Q&As, public reading opportunities, social receptions, and campus events. Designed for writers and illustrators who value both independence and creative community, this residency invites participants to shape their own experience, whether through focused solo writing, peer-led workshops, informal feedback, lively conversation, and discovery.

Description

This 12-day self-directed residency offers writers dedicated time, space, and momentum to advance a writing project within an active literary community. Come together in Banff Centre’s historic Vinci Hall, the program’s lively home base: a clubhouse-style environment of assigned personal studios, shared lounge space, hallway conversations, spontaneous peer exchanges, and informal plans taking shape throughout the day. Expect the everyday energy of creators working, gathering, and moving through their creative process together. 

Each participant is paired with an exceptional faculty mentor, Jillian Tamaki, Gabrielle Bell, or Jesse Lonergan for weekly one-on-one consultations The faculty bring complementary expertise in visual storytelling, graphic memoir, illustration, experimental comics, and page design, supporting creators as they develop both the narrative and visual language of their work. Alongside faculty mentorship, participants gain insight into the publishing landscape through guest speakers Peggy Burns and Tom Devlin, owners of Drawn & Quarterly, one of Canada's most influential independent publishers and a global leader in comics publishing. Optional programming includes faculty talks and Q&As, public reading opportunities, social receptions, and campus events. 

Comics and Graphic Novels is best suited to creators excited by community and comfortable shaping their own time, choosing the balance of solitude, mentorship, programming, and peer connection that best supports their practice. Writers and illustrators working in digital or within traditional mediums are welcome to apply. Traditional mediums should be suitable for a standard office-style studio environment and include materials such as pencil, pen, ink, and water-soluble techniques.

Requirements

The program is designed for emerging and established writers and illustators with a proven publication record seeking a period of dedicated time to work on a project. Writers and illustrators working in digital or within traditional mediums are welcome to apply. Traditional mediums should be suitable for a standard office-style studio environment and include materials such as pencil, pen, ink, and water-soluble techniques.

The residency suits those focused on:

• working on a specific project.
• creating new works.

This program is not open to applicants who have taken part in a Banff Centre residency in the last year, nor to current faculty members of any other Banff Centre programming.

This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.

Eligibility

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

Domestic and international applications are welcome.

Visa Eligibility Information: 

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