Application Deadline October 29, 2025
Program Dates Apr 06, 2026 - Mar 26, 2027
Arrive Apr 05, 2026
Depart Mar 27, 2027
Program Durations: Residencies can be 1 or 2 weeks in length. Longer residencies may be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to availability

Proposed dates must start on a Monday and end on a Friday, with arrival on the Sunday before and departure on the Saturday after.

Overview
This is your time for uninterrupted space to start or advance your project in our dance studios, rehearsal spaces or music studios. Ideal for solo creators or small to medium sized ensembles, it provides the space and freedom to move, make noise, and focus deeply on your work.

Open to performance-based practices - dancers, choreographers, theatre-makers, opera artists, musicians, and interdisciplinary collaborators - these residencies welcome you to explore, experiment, and create new work. With access to dance studios or rehearsal spaces, large instruments that cannot travel - along with with limited production support - you’ll have the freedom to shape your work independently, designing your own creative process without structured programming or mentorship, in the solitude of Banff Centre’s inspiring mountain setting.

Description
Ideal for bold, self-directed artists and collectives whose projects need space, sound, or movement not possible in the Leighton Artist Studios. Perfect for:

Dance: choreography, research
Theatre: playwriting, dramaturgy, development
Opera: composition, research
Music: composition, research
Interdisciplinary: hybrid or genre-defying work
Residencies include smaller, private studios and rehearsal spaces equipped for performance-based practices and will be allocated according to need. Studios features may include:

Dance flooring (Marley/sprung or carpet)
Small PA system
Tables, chairs, mirror wall or rolling mirrors
Height clearance for lifts/choreography
Pianos and instruments too large for travel
Self-recording equipment
Professional recording may be available in our recording studio or performance spaces, pending availability. This would incur a separate fee. If interested, please indicate as such in your application, your preferred recording date, and a brief outline of the project scope.

Dates
As part of the application, you’ll be asked to select several preferred date ranges for your residency. Dates and Studios will be assigned according to studio availability, requirements and ability to support the project needs.

Residencies can be 1 or 2 weeks in length, scheduled from a Monday to a Friday. Longer residencies may be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to availability. Arrival is on the Sunday before and departure on the Saturday after the residency dates.

There will be no availability between December 14, 2026 and January 3, 2027 due to the institutional closure.

Important: Once confirmed, residency dates are fixed and cannot be changed or deferred. Please ensure to select dates that align with your schedule when applying.

Requirements
We welcome applications from creative professionals and collectives at all career stages who:

Have a demonstrated record of accomplishment
Have a clearly articulated project ready for focused development which fits within the footprint of a Banff Centre performing arts studio or rehearsal space
Can work independently without mentorship, production or tech support
Bring their own equipment and materials
Collaborative groups of up to 6 people can apply.

*Funding amounts vary and do not cover 100% of the total program fee. Participants should expect to pay a minimum of 25% of the total program fee.

We are pleased to offer financial aid for Canadian Indigenous participants, which covers 100% of the total program fee.