Program faculty Kyo Maclear, Taras Grescoe, and Sarah Berman
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
Program Dates: May 12 - May 23, 2025
This two-week residency encourages the exploration of new ideas in literary journalism (creative non-fiction) and experimentation in writing. Designed to challenge and stimulate, the program aims to inspire creative pieces of non-fiction and to assist the writers in their completion.
A preeminent space for long-form journalism, this residency emphasizes the strengths of thorough and articulate reporting, distinctive storytelling, and literary devices.
Work created in this program has been published in many outlets including The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, and The Atlantic, and pieces have gone on to win National Magazine and National Newspaper Awards.
Writers will have time to:
Faculty will provide mentorship and one-on-one workshops to discuss:
Literary Journalism is designed for writers seeking a professional development opportunity in a community of peers with the guidance of an experienced writer/editor, as each participant prepares a long form piece.
Applicants should be experienced professionals, active in the diversified fields of writing, including print or electronic media. This program is open to fiction and non-fiction writers, journalists, freelance critics or curators, artists, and academics, with an emphasis on those who can write for a lay audience with logic, vigour, and charm—and those who have a portfolio to prove it.
This program is not open to:
This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.
Applicants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date.
Domestic and international applications are welcome.
Visa Eligibility Information:
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.
Rogers Communications Chair in Literary Journalism Endowment Fund
All dates are subject to change. One-on-one sessions with mentors will be booked during program dates.
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. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Full meal plan is equivalent to $73 credit per day, equivalent to two meals at our Buffet service.
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.
This program offers opportunities to showcase your work-in-progress.
Group seminars and workshops with faculty.
The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives are delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty
$65 for individuals, $35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous.
The application fee is non-refundable. 100% of this fee goes towards the cost of administering the application in SlideRoom.
We are pleased to offer scholarships to support participants in our program. Below are details regarding the scholarship amount and how they are applied.
If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
Help fund your experience at Banff Centre by view a compiled 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 one to three-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience.
A one-page cover letter explaining why you are interested in this program and what you hope to achieve by attending it.
An outline of one to three pages of your proposed work-in-progress. This summary may be used as a narrative for administrative and public use.
Please provide an excerpt from the work-in-progress that you intend to work on during the program (maximum 10 pages).
Be sure to complete the Financial Aid question in SlideRoom to be eligible for financial assistance.
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: