Call for Applications: Visual Arts Residency for Indigenous Artists, Banff Centre

Lara Felsing, Aknumustiǂis Ecological Engagement Through the Seasons, Banff Centre 2023. Photo by Rita Taylor.

Call for Applications

Explore new directions in your work in this residency focused on land-centered artistic processes and engagement. We are pleased to offer 100% scholarships to support Indigenous artists to attend our programming.

Aknumustiǂis: Ecological Engagement Through the Seasons 2025
Hybrid Program
September 2 – October 3, 2025
Application Deadline: May 7, 2025

This five-week hybrid residency will engage 12 visual artists whose artistic practice includes land-based themes, environmental sustainability, Indigenous narratives of the land, and/or use of natural materials.

Artists can apply with a personal project to explore, experiment and research, or complete their final project work. The online portion equips artists to arrive on campus ready to create in a supportive environment with access to a studio and Visual Arts facilities. The residency features workshops, on-the-land engagement, faculty guidance, knowledge exchange centered on integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into the artistic process and the opportunity to showcase works at Open Studios.

This hybrid residency is a balance of self-directed studio time, workshops, presentations, and access to Visual Arts Studios. This residency is supported by a faculty team, who will offer insight into their creative processes, and visual arts facilitators. Successful applicants will benefit from:

• Self-directed time to work on a personal project.
• 24/7 access to their own studio in Glyde Hall.
• Group workshops and presentations from faculty and artists, along with one-on-one sessions, and on-the-land engagement opportunities.
• Visual Arts facilities which include production in analogue and digital photography, sculpture, printmaking, paper-making, ceramics, fibre, painting, drawing, digital media, video, and sound.
• Visual Arts team to support and facilitate their projects and provide technical assistance.
• Opportunities to showcase works-in-progress at the Open Studios at the end of the program.

Participants are expected to bring the necessary materials and embellishments for their personal design projects during the on-campus portion of the residency. All other workshop-related materials will be provided by the program.

This program is geared towards established Indigenous visual artists from regional, national, and global locations. Participants should have a strong background in ecological engagement within their current practice, and a keen interest in exploring themes of stewardship, land-based learning, and archival research as part of their practice.

Banff Centre welcomes applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply.

Scholarship of 100% is available to cover tuition fees, meals, and accommodation costs.

Please visit the program page for more information and to apply.

About Visual Arts Programs at Banff Centre

Visual Arts at Banff Centre offers exceptional programs for professional artists, curators, art critics, and researchers. Visual Arts also supports, develops, and presents contemporary art through the Walter Phillips Gallery.

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For more information, contact:
Admissions
Email: VisualArtsAdmissions@banffcentre.ca

Phone: 403.762.6100
banffcentre.ca/visual-arts