Organizer Information
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a non-degree-granting post-secondary institution and registered Canadian charity based in Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Founded in 1933 by the University of Alberta's Department of Extension as the Banff School of Drama, it grew into the Banff School of Fine Arts and was granted full autonomy as an educational institution under its own board in 1978. Today it operates as a global arts, culture, and creativity organization offering training and professional development across more than a dozen art forms, supported by funding from the Government of Alberta, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Department of Canadian Heritage, among others. Its Literary Arts programming — of which Deep Winter Writers is a part — has run for over 50 years.
Title & Description
Deep Winter Writers 2027
Deep Winter Writers is a 19-day self-directed literary residency at Banff Centre offering writers time away from the constraints of everyday life to work deeply on a creative project alongside a community of artistic peers. The program provides access to consultations with mentors Karen Solie, Yasmine Seale, and Renee Gladman, and professional guest Rita Bullwinkel, as well as optional group sessions exploring useful literary tools and devices. Faculty are on campus for the first two weeks of the residency; the third week allows participants to work independently and apply what they've learned. The program has a flexible format, letting participants choose the amount of structured programming and support they want, alongside individual accommodation and a small private studio.
Categories
- Creative Writing
- Writing
- Residency
- Literature
- Fiction
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
Eligibility
- Applicants must be 18+ at the time of the program start date
- Domestic and international applications are welcome
- Designed for writers in all creative genres, for emerging and established writers with a proven publication record
- Participants must be comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment
- The program is run in English and only accepts projects being written in English; English is the language of all Banff Centre correspondence
- Applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities, and expressions are welcome; artists from historically underrepresented and equity-deserving groups are especially welcome
- Banff Centre programs do not meet the eligibility requirements for a Canadian Student Visa; accepted international participants must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada and are responsible for identifying and complying with immigration requirements from their country of origin
Program Benefits & Awards
- Individual accommodation and a small private studio
- Meal plan
- Access to group seminars/workshops, showcase opportunities, the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, and general campus facilities
- One-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty
- Banff Centre Arts Scholarship: all arts participants receive a scholarship covering 100% of tuition and 25% of meal plan and accommodation costs
- Canadian Indigenous Scholarship: Canadian Indigenous applicants receive support covering 100% of tuition, meal plan, and accommodation costs
Application Fee
- Application/Submission Fee: $65 for individuals; $35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous. This fee is non-refundable, and 100% of it goes toward the cost of administering the application through SlideRoom.
- Program Fee (payable if accepted): Total fee before scholarships for tuition, accommodation, and a meal plan is $5,601.75. A scholarship of $2,971.50 is automatically applied (see Program Benefits & Awards), bringing the total amount the artist pays after the scholarship to $2,630.25.
Application Requirements
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Project proposal
- Portfolio
- Financial Assistance section (to be considered for Banff Centre scholarships)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 July 2026
- Program Dates: 10 January – 30 January 2027
- Deep Winter Writers Literary Cabarets: January 14, 19, and 21
- Farewell Reception: January 29
- Departure: January 30
Location
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Additional Details
- Selection is made by an adjudication panel of internal and external assessors, based on quality/originality/artistic merit, required skills and experience, the potential for the applicant's work to benefit from the program, and Banff Centre's ability to support the project
- The program is highly competitive with a limited number of places available; applicants are notified once adjudication is complete, and individual feedback is not provided due to application volume
- All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change; program fees are subject to applicable taxes
- Non-refundable fees and deposits are retained upon cancellation; other fees are refunded at Banff Centre's discretion
- Banff Centre issues tax receipts for applicable financial assistance, awards, and eligible tuition, per Canada Revenue Agency requirements