Organizer Information:

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Visual Arts at Banff Centre offers exceptional programs for contemporary artists led by diverse faculty at the forefront of contemporary art, located in the inspiring mountain setting of the Canadian Rockies.

Title & Description:

Applications are open for the Visual Arts Thematic Residency: Future Figurations.

Drawing on ideas of speculative futures, science fiction, myth-making, and world-building, artists are invited to research, imagine, and create possible selves and possible worlds. Led by artist-faculty Rajni Perera and Marigold Santos, the program considers futurity as an anti-oppressive and restorative force, exploring new possibilities of selfhood and agency by decolonizing ideas of the body.

Category:

Visual Arts & Thematic Research (Includes ceramics, digital media, painting, drawing, printmaking, papermaking, photography, sculpture, and installation).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Open to individual artists or duos (no more than two collaborators) from Canada or internationally. (Priority will be given to artists who have NOT attended a Visual Arts residency at Banff Centre in the past three years).
  • Age Limit: Applicants MUST be 18+ at the time of the program start date.
  • Experience Level: Must have completed formal training in visual arts at the post-secondary level OR possess equivalent experience and peer recognition acquired through traditional knowledge/practices.
  • Attendance: The program is designed for participation over the entire period. Variable/partial dates will NOT be considered.
  • Studio Restrictions: Children are strictly NOT permitted in visual arts studios or production areas.
  • Visa Requirements: International accepted participants MUST obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada. (Banff Centre programs do strictly NOT meet the requirements for a Canadian Student Visa).

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Workspace: Generous, assigned individual studio spaces with access to shared, exceptional technical production facilities.
  • Mentorship: Faculty-supported research-creation, studio visits, lectures, and discussion workshops focused on speculative futures.

Application Fee & Program Costs:

  • Standard Application Fee: $65
  • Indigenous Application Fee: $35 (For applicants who identify as Indigenous).

Application Requirements:

  • Submission of a project proposal aligned with the thematic track.

How to Apply?

Submit your application and fee via the official Banff Centre online portal.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: June 3, 2026.
  • Program Dates: January 25 – February 26, 2027.

Location:

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Contact Information:

Website & Application Link: https://www.banffcentre.ca/visual-arts