Oki. Taan-shi. Dâ âûch yahine. Gwanistłi naniya. Bienvenue. Welcome.
We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda)—comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations— as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Métis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.
How to Buy Tickets
About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Founded in 1933, Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development.
From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus— artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences—to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future.
Banff Centre Box Office Hours
Tuesday – Thursday 12 – 4 PM MT
Outside of these hours, please leave your name, number, and a brief message.
In Person
For all live Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival performances, Banff Centre Box Office will open at the venue 30 minutes prior to showtime for in-person ticket sales.
Accessibility Requests
If you require any accessibility accommodations, please advise our Box Office as soon as possible to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Board of Governors of The Banff Centre (operating as Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity) is a corporation that operates under the Post- Secondary Learning Act in Alberta. Banff Centre is also a registered charity (registration # 11921 4955 RR0001), and under section 149 of the Income Tax Act in Canada is exempt from income tax.
Banff Centre is supported by funding from the Government of Alberta through Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education, Alberta Infrastructure, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Arts programs are supported by funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canada Arts Training Fund. The experience at Banff Centre is also enriched through generous support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Banff Centre
Curatorial Team
President & CEO
Chris Lorway
Executive Director, Arts
Josephine Ridge
Director, Literary Arts
Derek Beaulieu
Director, Walter Phillips Gallery
Acting Director, Visual Arts
Jacqueline Bell
Director, Theatre Arts
Amiel Gladstone
Program Director, Opera
Joel Ivany
Program Director, Dance
Alejandro Ronceria
Director, Banff International
String Quartet Competition
Barry Shiffman
Director, Leighton Studios & Program Partnerships
Haema Sivanesan
Director, Festival & World Tour
Joanna Croston
Managing Director, Digital, Film & Media
Kerry Stauffer
Director, Indigenous Arts
Janine Windolph
Program Director, Soundweavings
Haruka Fujii
Program Director, Art of Piano
Micah Yui
Program Director, Jazz & Sonic Arts
Piotr Turkiewicz
Managing Director, Program Operations, Arts
Kameko Higa
What’s On This Summer
Our past is always connected to our present. Throughout this guide, this icon marks events featuring Banff Centre
The symbol appears next to the names of artists and faculty members who have completed a residency at Banff Centre. This symbol is used throughout the guide to indicate a free event Some free events require a ticket in advance.
Opera, jazz, film, and more… “Artists
roam freely across these definitions” and so should we.
Banff Centre’s President and CEO Chris Lorway talks with Executive Director of Arts Josephine Ridge about the special alchemy of the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival.
JOSEPHINE RIDGE: The theme for this year’s festival is gathering and conversation—so, here we are, talking.
CHRIS LORWAY: In some ways this theme of dialogue isn’t even new. Banff Centre has always been a space for people from around the world to come together to share ideas, learn, and grow. The festival is such a highlight of the year because it’s an opportunity for the public to be a part of that experience.
JOSEPHINE: We’re inviting audiences into these educational spaces where so much creative exchange happens, and providing shared experiences, which can be a real antidote to all the chaos going on in the world right now.
CHRIS: We’re the ultimate artistic laboratory—it’s like when a famous comedian goes to a small club in New York to try out material for the first time. Artists get to put their material out there and see how people respond.
JOSEPHINE: With our international lineup, this exchange also crosses borders. This is art that resonates globally, but has local relevance. And, let’s not forget, the festival experience goes beyond the events.
CHRIS: Right, before the show, you can go for a hike, or have a drink…
JOSEPHINE: I mean, we’ve got the best views of any restaurant anywhere! As much as the festival is offering enriching experiences, it’s also just relaxing and enjoyable. Whether you live here or are visiting, it never gets old.
CHRIS: True! And we have something for everyone, at every price point. There’s visual arts, music, literature, theatre—and plenty of options within those categories.
JOSEPHINE: I think this variety reflects the way artists see the world. There can be a tendency for audiences to view things in silos—the idea that you have to be an opera person, a jazz person, or a film person—but artists roam freely across these definitions. By bringing these disciplines together, we become a living example of how artists actually work.
CHRIS: It really is an alchemy only Banff Centre can offer.
Chris Lorway and Josephine Ridge, photo by Rita Taylor. Rodney Konopaki and Rhonda Neufeld, Walking Banff, 2009, Collection of Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Events Calendar
May — September
Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival A celebration of art in the mountains!
Since 1950, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has been inviting audiences onto campus for concerts, art shows, film screenings, workshop presentations, productions, talks, and readings at our gorgeous location on Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. With a 360˚ view of the Rocky Mountains, the Summer Arts Festival invites the Banff community into the creative process that happens every day at Banff Centre to witness the magic that comes out of our residencies in visual art, music, opera, Indigenous arts, literature, and more.
From world premieres to works in their earliest stage of development, Banff Centre is a place where emerging artists, Canadian icons, and international superstars gather to create and share work with our community.
THEATRE
SEARCH PARTY
Written and performed by Inua Ellams
FRIDAY, MAY 2
An “immensely erudite, multifaceted, and busy artist” Vulture
MARGARET GREENHAM THEATRE
Pick a word, any word.
$ 7:30 PM
Prompted by audience suggestion and open conversation, internationally acclaimed poet and playwright Inua Ellams searches an electronic archive of every word he’s ever written, published or unpublished, and reads a spontaneous selection. Poems mingle with plays and essays, generating a performance that’s different every time.
An act of call and response that hearkens back to the birth of storytelling, SEARCH PARTY is uniquely futuristic and gloriously interactive.
Inua Ellams. Photo by Adama Jalloh for The New York Times at Potterfields Park in London on September 17th 2020.
Soundweavings
Program Director: Haruka Fujii
Soundweavings is a music program that celebrates intercultural exchange, inspired by the histories and traditions of the invited participants and faculty members from Australia, India, Korea, Vietnam, and Canada. These concerts showcase a new era of international collaboration, experimentation, and creation.
Soundweavings is made possible through the generous support of the Yolande
Left: Jeremy Dutcher, photo by Kirk Lisaj. Right: Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, photo courtesy of the artist.
Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.
Nguyen Thanh
Thuy,
Sandeep Bhagwati, & Hand to Earth Trio
THURSDAY MAY 1 JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE 7:30 PM $
Experience the visionary work of German composer Sandeep Bhagwati, who brings diverse musical influences together in elegant harmony. Be captivated by Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, a renowned đàn tranh player reimagining Vietnamese traditional music through a modern lens.
Anchoring the concert is a performance from Australiabased contemporary music ensemble Hand to Earth Trio—a groundbreaking collaboration between Daniel Yipininy Wilfred, a Yolŋu songman preserving ancient storytelling traditions from northeast Arnhem Land; Sunny Kim, a Korean vocalist drawing influences from experimental jazz; and Peter Knight , an innovative trumpeter, composer, and producer blending acoustic and electronic textures.
These artists invite you to explore music that transcends borders and time.
Soundweavings Participant Concerts
Jeremy Dutcher MOTEWOLONUWOK
Enter the wholly unique world of Jeremy Dutcher a Two-Spirit song carrier, classically trained tenor, and Wolastoqiyik member of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in eastern Canada—live at Banff Centre. Dutcher’s acclaimed debut Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa unearthed century-old archival recordings of his ancestors and turned them into collaborative, piano-based compositions. His 2024 sophomore album Motewolonuwok ᒣᑌᐧᐁᓓᓄᐧᐁᒃ was awarded the Polaris Music Prize, making Dutcher the only double winner. While he began his career performing solely in the endangered language of Wolastoqey, Motewolonuwok also includes several English originals.
Unapologetically playful in its incorporation of classical and jazz influences, full of reverence for tradition, and teeming with the urgency of modern-day resistance, Dutcher’s music is like nothing else.
SATURDAY MAY 3 JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE 7:30 PM $ MAY 7 & 9 ROLSTON
Explore the global music soundscapes of our Soundweavings residency, where contrasting musical influences combine to produce one-of-a-kind performances.
Experience the fresh perspectives of these talented artists as they bring unique compositions and collaborative works to life.
Left: Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, photo courtesy of the artist. Hand to Earth Trio: Daniel Wilfred, Peter Knight, and Sunny Kim, photos by Sarah Walker.
Right: Jeremy Dutcher, photo by Sara Melvin.
Art of Piano
Program Director: Micah Yui
World-class faculty and emerging musical talents meet in Art of Piano , a program that pushes the instrument to new heights in skill, expression, and composition.
Additional support provided by
Art of Piano is generously supported by lead donor Heather Edwards.
Helen Graham and the Yolanda Freeze Master Artists Music fund. MUSIC
Hung-Kuan Chen and Sabrina Chen, Art of Piano Masterclass, photo by Abigaile Edwards.
Hung-Kuan Chen & Tema Blackstone
Mozart and Debussy
Fabio Bidini & Micah Yui
Rachmaninoff and the Symphonic Dances
Joanna MacGregor CBE From Baroque to Contemporary
SUNDAY MAY 25
7:30 PM $ ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
A pair of exceptional pianists unite for an unforgettable evening of piano. Masterful performers from the Juilliard School, Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone showcase their technical prowess via selections from Mozart and Debussy. The married couple often teaches together and has performed as a duo worldwide.
SUNDAY JUNE 1
7:30 PM $ ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
Fabio Bidini and Micah Yui , faculty at the Colburn School, perform pieces by Rachmaninoff. From Italy, Bidini is one of his generation’s top-flight pianists, and has appeared with major symphonies around the world. Yui, meanwhile, is an acclaimed Canadian pianist, whose playing contains “blazing enthusiasm, power, and technical assurance” (Los Angeles Times).
TUESDAY JUNE 3
7:30 PM $ ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
Don’t miss one of the world’s most innovative pianists take centre stage. Joanna MacGregor is a celebrated performer, composer, conductor, and educator whose versatility has captivated audiences in over 80 countries. Returning after a celebrated performance in Art of Piano in the 2024 Festival, MacGregor is back to showcase her ability to pivot from classical masterpieces to the world of jazz and beyond.
Art of Piano Participant Showcases
JUNE 5 & 6
3 PM & 7 PM FREE ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
Be inspired by the next generation of musicians as our Art of Piano participants present a series of intimate but energetic performances. Each two-and-a-half-hour performance consists of five 30-minute mini-recitals.
Left to Right: Hung-Kuan Chen, photo courtesy of the artist. Tema Blackstone, photo courtesy of the artist. Micah Yui, photo by Philip Pirolo. Fabio Bidini, photo by Philip Pirolo. Joanna MacGregor, photo by Pal Hansen.
Ask the Banff Centre Curators
Banff Centre’s Curators are the ones who conceive our programs, invite our artists, and plan the exhibitions and performances. So, what does the Festival theme of “Gathering and Conversations” mean for their art forms?
Janine Windolph
Indigenous Arts
Gathering is an essential tenet of Indigenous Arts programs and reflects the power of the mountain’s history to be a place where many Indigenous people gathered for thousands of years. It continues to do so, only now it’s also on an international level.
Amiel Gladstone
Theatre Arts
Opera is all about gathering. Everything—from the making of the art, to the relationship with audiences—is about gathering together. Welcoming an audience to come and experience the creation of the art at different stages or into the creation process itself is a whole new level to the importance of gathering for the performing arts.
Joanna Croston
Mountain Culture
The idea of gathering the mountain community together on an annual basis is at the core of everything we do in the Mountain Culture department. The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival in the fall is the largest of these gatherings for us, but the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival ensures that the community has opportunity to connect throughout the year.
Derek Beaulieu Literary Arts
Literary Arts residencies focus on building a cohort— a community of writers from around the world who are all passionate and dedicated to writing new work. Writing doesn’t come from solitude, it comes from dialogue, community, and camaraderie—all of which are key to helping writers feel seen and supported.
Jacqueline Bell
Visual Arts and Walter Phillips Gallery
Visual Arts residency programs like Kapishkum: Métis Gathering offer deep opportunities for transfer of knowledge and creative exploration in an engaged community of artists and makers. These experiences are often deeply transformative, and core to what makes Banff Centre an important place for generations of artists and cultural workers.
Kerry Stauffer
Media, Film, and Digital
The concept of gatherings is very central to building programming—with the Professional Training Programs the participants are immersed into an artistic program where the mix of the different artists who gather together in a residency makes a unique and rich cohort, and those relationships last well beyond their time here.
Opposite: Indigenous Dance Workshop, photo by Rita Taylor.
INDIGENOUS ARTS
Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series
Since 2021, Decolonizing the Narrative has invited leading Indigenous artists to talk about their practices and processes. Explore and deepen your understanding of how these artists use their creativity as a tool to decolonize the systems around us all.
Indigenous Arts is generously supported by RBC Foundation.
Soloman Chiniquay & Nic Latulippe Through the Lens
Leah Marie Dorion
Honouring Métis Culture: Creativity and Kinship
WEDNESDAY MAY 14
Can’t make it in person? Both talks will be streamed so you can watch from anywhere at any time.
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
Documentary photographer and filmmaker Soloman Chiniquay and experimental filmmaker Nic Latulippe discuss the importance of community engagement in their collaborative storytelling projects. They’ll share insights from their work with grassroots programs and reflect on how their partnership has enriched their respective artistic practices.
WEDNESDAY JULY 16 7 PM FREE
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM 7 PM FREE
Saskatchewan-based artist Leah Marie Dorion shares the backstory behind her various creative projects involving Métis culture and its relationship to family kinship, identity, and the land. She’ll discuss how she thinks about balancing her artistic impulses with her responsibility to offer accurate representations of Métis children and families.
Above, Left to Right: Solomon Chiniquay and Nic Latulippe, photos courtesy of the artists.
Below: Leah Marie Dorion, photo courtesy of the artist.
National Indigenous History Month
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity invites you to take part in events and activities throughout June— online, at Banff Centre, and at partner locations in Banff and Canmore. Banff Centre is proud to announce the opening of its first Indigenous Cultural Centre in June 2025. Stay tuned for details on how to join us for this important celebration.
Leela Gilday Live
With soaring vocals, rich melodies, and a commanding stage presence, Dene singer-songwriter Leela Gilday invites listeners on a journey of resilience, identity, and connection. A Juno Award-winning artist with a reputation for authenticity, Gilday draws inspiration from her birthplace of Yellowknife, crafting music that is both profoundly moving and deeply relatable.
Indigenous Virtual Market
Leela Gilday, photo by Pat Kane.
Kapishkum: Métis Gathering
Kapishkum, meaning “to transcend” in Michif, brings together a cohort of Métis artists to engage in creative production and advance their personal practices alongside peers and faculty mentors. This program aims to celebrate and bolster Métisspecific art, creative forms, and unique ways of being, knowing, and doing in a collaborative and critical environment. Meet renowned Métis faculty and artists at a host of public events.
Visual Arts is supported by the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Outstanding Artist Program.
Jason Baerg, Red Tail Hawk Configuration of Nomadic Bounce. Site-specific laser cut acrylic installation painting on wood 2012—2024. Photo by Scott Lee.
Open Lecture: Jason Baerg
Kapishkum: Métis Gathering
Panel Discussion
Kapishkum: Métis Gathering
Open Studios
Kapishkum: Métis Gathering
FRIDAY JUNE 6 4 PM FREE JEANNE & PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING ROOM 204
Artist Jason Baerg discusses his artistic practice. A faculty member of Kapishkum: Métis Gathering and an Assistant Professor in Indigenous Practices in Contemporary Painting and Media Art at OCAD University, Baerg will reflect on the way in which Métis heritage and culture has informed his work across media, as well as on his continuing advocacy for Métis artists.
Join our celebrated Kapishkum: Métis Gathering faculty for a conversation on contemporary Métis art in Canada. Speakers include Liz Barron , a founding member of the Harbour Collective, which supports Indigenous filmmakers and visual artists; Daphne Boyer, whose work combines natural materials and high resolution digital tools to create art that celebrates her Indigenous heritage; and David Garneau , a painter, curator, and critical art writer who engages with contemporary Indigenous ways of being.
Visit the studios of this year’s Kapishkum: Métis Gathering participants and see the works they developed during their five weeks at Banff Centre.
Daphne Boyer, Cedar and Sweetgrass Banners, 2022. Digital collages of individually photographed porcupine quills. Image printed on silk twill using acid dyes. 16′ x 14′. Photo by Lina Samoukova.
Above: Jason Baerg, photo courtesy of The High Commission of Canada to the UK. Below, Left to Right: Liz Barron, Daphne Boyer, and David Garneau, photos courtesy of the artists.
VISUAL ARTS
Open Lecture Series
Early Career Banff Artist in Residence
FRIDAY, JULY 25
Jerry Ropson
Artist Jerry Ropson speaks to his practice and its exploration of rural life, material reuse, and site-specificity.
MONDAY, JULY 28
Riva Symko
Curator Riva Symko uses her own professional practice as a jumping-off point to explore broader curatorial trends from the last decade and a half.
Open Studios
Early Career Banff Artist in Residence
MONDAY, AUGUST 11
Tak Pham
Curator and writer Tak Pham discusses his curatorial practice, which has taken him across the country, from the Illingworth Kerr Gallery at AUARTS to MacKenzie Art Gallery and beyond.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20
GLYDE HALL
JULY 25 & 28, AUGUST 11 4 PM FREE JEANNE & PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING ROOM 204 4 – 7 PM FREE
Early Career Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR) provides mentorship, critical feedback, and studio time to visual artists and curators in the early stages of their careers. Roam the studios of this year’s participants, see their works, and discover the ideas and inspirations that shaped their creative journey during their five weeks at Banff Centre.
Above, Left to Right: Jerry Ropson, photo by Jolie Jeddore. Riva Symko, photo by Jonathan S. Green. Tak Pham, photo by Farihah Shah. Below: Thao Nguyen, Get LIT! Language, Image, Text, photo by Rita Taylor.
HOW TO FEST
Make a weekend of it!
Make the most of your Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience: stay, dine, and see shows all on campus.
Visit the How To Fest pages (31, 35) for tips on where to eat and rest, and see below for some of our curated weekend itineraries.
May 1 – 3
Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, Sandeep Bhagwati, & Hand to Earth Trio | p. 9
SEARCH PARTY written and performed by Inua Ellams | p. 7
Jeremy Dutcher MOTEWOLONUWOK
June 27 – 29
Elliptical Lineages Exhibition Reception | p. 20
Ghostkeeper | p. 21
| p. 9
Kapishkum: Métis Gathering Panel Discussion | p. 17
Elliptical Lineages Artist Discussion | p. 20
July 25 – 27
Visual Arts Open Lecture: Jerry Ropson | p. 18
An Evening with Karim Al-Zand - Interplay Opera Workshop | p. 30
The Handmaid’s Tale Opera | p. 29
August 28 – 30
Summer Writers Reading: Catriona Strang | p. 23
Banff International String Quartet Competition | p. 36 Kati Agócs World Premiere Beethoven/Schubert + 20th Century Round
MUSIC THEATRE
Banff Centre campus, photo by Abigaile Edwards.
WALTER PHILLIPS GALLERY
Elliptical Lineages
JUNE 7 — SEPTEMBER 7
– SUNDAY 12:30 – 5 PM
This Walter Phillips Gallery Exhibition presents works by artists that in some sense engage the creative work of a family member or those whom they consider kin. Reflecting on relationships between art and craft or creative forms of living and making within the context of daily life, the exhibition also intends to complicate conventional ideas of artistic lineage and embrace the complexity of creative exchange and transmission of knowledge across generations.
Exhibition Reception
Artist Discussion Exhibition Tour
John de Haan & Jason de Haan , When the Last Earth-Tie is Sundered (My jacket and my Son’s / My Father’s jacket and mine), 1975 / 2025, embroidery, bleach, and silk on denim jackets.
HOW TO FEST
Meet me at
From jazz jams and live music to literary cabarets and more, CLVB ’33 is your go-to spot for unforgettable evenings of creativity and connection. Grab a drink, settle in, and enjoy visiting artists in an intimate and casual setting.
MUSIC
Ghostkeeper
Enjoy an intimate evening with Calgary-based band Ghostkeeper, led by songwriters Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle. Known for their experimental pop sound that expands into psychedelic rock, their music deftly explores experiences of Indigeneity while channelling the spirit world in all its pain, beauty, and wonderment. Their most recent release, Cîpayak Joy , mixes found noises with snippets of pop and trap, weaving a tapestry of haunting beauty.
Doors open at 8 p.m. Show begins at 9 p.m.
Ghostkeeper, photo by Jared Sych.
LITERARY ARTS
Literary Cabarets
Banff Centre’s Literary Arts programs are renowned internationally for their award-winning alumni and faculty. Here is your chance to hear from established authors and a new generation of writers as they share the stage— and their latest work. Have a drink, browse for books, and hear the cutting edge of literature.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Readings begin at 7 p.m.
Left: Winter Writers Reading, photo by Rita Taylor. Right: Téa Mutonji, Writers Trust Participant Reading, photo by Rita Taylor.
Literary Journalism
Readings
MAY 15, 20, & 22 7 PM FREE CLVB ’33
Hear from writers developing pieces in long-form journalism and creative nonfiction in this acclaimed program.
THURSDAY, MAY 15
Chapter 1
Hosted by Sarah Berman
Sarah Berman is a journalist covering culture, politics, and justice. Her first book, Don’t Call It a Cult, was shortlisted for a Kobo Emerging Writer Prize and a Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence.
TUESDAY, MAY 20
Chapter 2
Hosted by Taras Grescoe
The award-winning author of eight nonfiction books, Taras Grescoe has contributed to The New York Times, The Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine, and more.
THURSDAY, MAY 22
Chapter 3
Hosted by Kyo Maclear
An essayist, editor, and novelist, Kyo Maclear is the author of Unearthing, winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for English-language nonfiction.
Summer Writers Readings
AUGUST 21, 26, & 28 7 PM FREE CLVB ’33
Experience works in progress by some of the world’s finest authors across a variety of genres from poetry to prose.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
Chapter 1
Hosted by Douglas Kearney
Douglas Kearney has published eight books ranging from poetry to essays. His lecture collection Optic Subwoof won the Poetry Foundation’s Pegasus Prize for Poetry Criticism in 2023.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
Chapter 2
Hosted by Eric Sneathen
A poet and queer literary historian, Eric Sneathen is the author of Snail Poems and Don’t Leave Me This Way
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Chapter 3
Hosted by Catriona Strang
A founding member of the Institute for Domestic Research, poet Catriona Strang is the author of Low Fancy, Corked, Reveries of a Solitary Biker, and Unfuckable Lardass
Left, Top to Bottom: Sarah Berman, photo by Michael Benz. Taras Grescoe, photo by Katia Taylor. Kyo Maclear, photo courtesy of the artist. Right, Top to Bottom: Douglas Kearney. Eric Sneathen. Catriona Strang. Photos courtesy of the artists.
The Literary Journalism program is supported by the Rogers Communications Chair in Literary Journalism Endowment Fund.
Change lives. Inspire creativity. Support Banff Centre.
When you give to Banff Centre, you are:
Inspiring and supporting artists
By offering artists the time, space, and resources to work, Banff Centre empowers creative expression. Our workshops, residencies, and programs encourage risk-taking, inspiring a brighter, more compassionate future.
Encouraging community connection
When we celebrate diverse voices, we forge a more connected world. Banff Centre brings people from around the world to exchange their unique traditions, stories, and values.
Bolstering innovation
Art leads to innovation and progress, generating new solutions to today’s complex challenges. It also spawns new jobs, spurs economic growth, and contributes to Canada’s GDP.
Donate Today. banffcentre.ca/support-us
“I know that for artists, time at Banff Centre means not having to steal hours from a job or domestic duties. Art is the job. And the benefit doesn’t stop at the end of the residency. You go home with renewed energy, momentum, and clarity. That’s why I give to Banff Centre, so that artists can have those nourishing, productive, and uplifting experiences.”
Ted Bishop Mountain Writers Intensive alumnus and Banff Centre donor
Ted Bishop, photo courtesy of the artist and donor.
Lead Sponsor
To celebrate the 100th birthday of a music legend, Banff Centre and The Estate of Oscar Peterson are proud to present Banff (The Beautiful) Celebrates Oscar Peterson at 100, an unforgettable evening of music and stories. Peterson and Banff Centre’s love of jazz have been intertwined since 1974, and there’s no better place to hear music from his nearly seven-decade career accompanied by reflections from his daughter, Céline Peterson.
For information on opportunities to purchase a ticket to the full fundraising event, which includes a reception, dinner, premium concert ticket, and an after party, please visit banffcentre.ca/celebrates.
Oscar Peterson, photo by Al Gilbert, C.M., F.R.P.S.
Interplay
Interplay celebrates the convergence of opera and chamber music. This summer, singers, instrumentalists, composers, conductors, directors, and designers will collaborate on a series of chamber music concerts, workshop presentations of new operas in development, and the premiere of a new arrangement of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Interplay is a unique collaboration between Banff Centre’s Opera and Music departments, combining to bring these two forms to new heights in performance.
Maeve Palmer (soprano), Annette Saunders (piano), Cordelia Paw (violin), Interplay Opera Workshop, photo by Rita Taylor.
Interplay is made possible through the generous support of the David Spencer Endowment Encouragement Fund and the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund. Banff Centre is in partnership with the Music in PyeongChang.
Program Director, Opera: Joel Ivany MUSIC & OPERA
MUSIC
Interplay Mainstage Chamber Music Concerts
JULY 3 & 5
Discover the world of chamber music, where a small number of instruments can make a massive impact.
Over two intimate evenings at the Rolston Recital Hall, Interplay faculty members will showcase their technical brilliance as the sun sets over the Rocky Mountains.
Chamber music is a form of classical music composed for a modest group of instruments—traditionally, a group that could fit in a palace chamber. More broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by few performers, with one performer to a part.
From delicate melodies to passionate themes, experience the rich palette of musical textures that define the genre. 7:30 PM $ ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
THURSDAY, JULY 3
Éric Le Sage , Magali Mosnier, Paul Meyer , & Sung-Won Yang
SATURDAY, JULY 5
Joel Brennan & Lee Allen
Interplay Faculty & Participant Chamber Music Concerts
JULY 12 & 17
7:30 PM $ ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
Embark on a journey to the modern edge of chamber music. Witness the premiere of dynamic new compositions at this pair of concerts from Interplay faculty and participants. Tradition will mix with an avant-garde spirit, redefining what’s possible in chamber music.
SATURDAY, JULY 12
Garneau String Quartet and Musicians from the Interplay Program
THURSDAY, JULY 17
Aiyun Huang , Jose Franch-Ballester , and Musicians from the Interplay Program
Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Éric Le Sage, photo by Nicolas Guerin. Magali Mosnier, photo courtesy of the artist. Paul Meyer, photo by Edith Held Vandoren. Sung-Won Yang, photo courtesy of the artist. Joel Brennan, photo courtesy of the artist. Lee Allen, photo courtesy of the artist.
The Handmaid’s Tale as Opera: An Interview with Margaret Atwood
The Canadian
literary legend on how her 1985 dystopian thriller was brought to life on stage.
The San Francisco Opera’s General Director Matthew Shilvock conducted a written interview with author Margaret Atwood on the opera adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale . An excerpt of this interview is reprinted here with their permission.
MATTHEW SHILVOCK: As author of some of the most iconic, thoughtfully constructed works of literature, what has it felt like to experience your work taking on its own life, being adapted by others for stage or screen?
MARGARET ATWOOD: I’ve done adaptations myself, so know some of the pitfalls. I’ve had some adaptations that didn’t catch fire—we won’t mention those—and some that have really been well-done, exciting, and impactful. It’s partly luck—adaptations are made by teams, not individuals, and if the team is good, the adaptation has a chance. But films, television series, ballets, and operas are their own art forms and have to succeed on those terms. You can’t expect them to be novels, which are made entirely of words.
SHILVOCK: How readily did you agree to give the rights for an operatic Handmaid’s Tale?
ATWOOD: I was in Copenhagen doing book promo, and the tall Danish composer, Poul Ruders, went down on his knees to me on the bright red carpet of the Hotel d’Angleterre. He said, “I’ve been given a commission by the Royal Danish Opera Company—the first one they’ve given in 34 years. I have to do The Handmaid’s Tale! I must do The Handmaid’s Tale! If I can’t do The Handmaid’s Tale, I don’t want to do any opera at all!” I thought,
“Either this man is a lunatic and the opera will be bad and will disappear, or he is a visionary and a genius, and it will be good. What’s to lose? Roll the dice!” And so I did.
SHILVOCK: What do you feel the art form of opera has uniquely brought to this story?
ATWOOD: Opera—I include its children, operetta and musical comedy—is the only art form that’s musical, visual, and dramatic all at the same time. It was the cinema of its day, and attracted audiences both highsociety and low. Composers in the 19th century churned out operas like B movies, and they could cause riots. Many think of opera now as rather staid, but that is not its origin. It delights me that The Handmaid’s Tale has brought back some of that boundary-pushing. It’s the only opera in which you will hear a beautiful yearning aria on the subject of the menstrual cycle, just for instance.
Margaret Atwood, photo by Luis Mora.
Continue reading this interview online:
MUSIC & OPERA
The Handmaid’s Tale
Composed by Poul Ruders and Libretto by Paul Bentley A new arrangement by Dan Schlosberg, commissioned by Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
SATURDAY JULY 26
Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel
Kamna Gupta Conductor
Brenna Corner Director
Amanda Testini Assistant Director
Gillian Gallow Set Designer
Sophie Tang Lighting Designer
Jessica Oostergo Costume Designer
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE $ 7:30 PM
A right-wing theocracy, a burning planet, and resistance against all odds. The live, operatic adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s chillingly relevant dystopian classic comes to the stage in the fully-realized world premiere of a chamber arrangement by acclaimed pianist and composer Dan Schlosberg, commissioned by Banff Centre and performed by Interplay faculty and participants.
Interplay
JULY 4 & 19
Your favourite arias and ensemble pieces are on tap at this casual, wild night, featuring performances from Interplay’s faculty and participants. Opera Pub is the perfect introduction for newcomers—and a refreshing new take for opera vets who want something a little different.
Opera Workshop
Immerse yourself in a new era of opera with these showcases of new works-in-progress supported by Banff Centre.
FRIDAY, JULY 11
Excerpts from St. Matthew Passion
One of the masterpieces of Baroque sacred music, Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion uses a gorgeous weave of arias and chorales to recount Jesus’s final days. Join the participants and faculty of the Interplay program for excerpts from this oratorio.
FRIDAY, JULY 25
An Evening with Karim Al-Zand
The music of Canadian American composer Karim Al-Zand draws from a wide pool of influences, including graphic art, myths, folk music, film, spoken word, jazz, and his own Middle Eastern heritage. Enjoy selections from his sweeping catalogue, performed by the participants and faculty of the Interplay Opera program.
Interplay Opera Pub, photo by Rita Taylor.
Come for the show, stay for the view
Perfect for festivalgoers from across the Bow Valley, Alberta, and beyond, our accommodations let you transform your time at the Festival into a relaxing night or weekend away at competitive rates.
Every stay includes complimentary Wi-Fi, parking, and admission to the Walter Phillips Gallery. You also receive membership access to the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation facilities, including a climbing gym, weight room, and aquatic centre.
Lloyd Hall
Recently renovated with contemporary design, queen-size beds, and accessible showers, Lloyd Hall is located steps from the Sally Borden Building, so it’s ideal for both relaxation and recreation.
Professional Development Centre
A cosy, lodge-style retreat with a stone fireplace lobby and a variety of available room sizes, Professional Development Centre is home to our front desk and a merch shop for a Banff Centre souvenir.
To book, visit banffcentre.ca/hotel or email reservations@banffcentre.ca You can also reach us at 1.800.884.7574 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S.) or 403.762.6148 (front desk).
Lloyd Hall, photo by Tom Arban.
HOW TO FEST
Meet me at the Amphitheatre
The majestic Shaw Amphitheatre sports a 360˚ view of Banff’s gorgeous surroundings. A natural valley in the heart of Banff Centre campus, there is no better spot to enjoy both the mountains and the arts in the summer.
With a cool breeze in the day and a blanket of stars at night, the Shaw Amphitheatre comes alive during the Banff Summer Arts Festival with happy hours, live music, DJ sets, and outdoor film screenings. Come to the Amphitheatre with a picnic or a meal from Maclab Bistro and soak up some rays and some art.
Concert at the Shaw Amphitheatre, photo by Donald Lee.
Happy Hour at the Amphitheatre
Arrive early and enjoy Happy Hour with drinks, bites, and music before every event in the AMP Sessions series and Outdoor Screenings!
AMP Sessions at the Amphitheatre
JULY 10, 24, 31, & AUGUST 21
On select Thursdays this summer, come to the Shaw Amphitheatre to wind down (or up!) under the mountain sky with live music and an unbeatable atmosphere.
FILMS
Outdoor Screenings at the Amphitheatre
Films from the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
6 PM
Details on artists and performances will be confirmed shortly. For more information, scan the QR code or visit banffcentre.ca/amp
Stories We Have Earned: The Stoney Nakoda Film Project
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4 8:30 PM
Bring a blanket and the whole family for a night of inspiring mountain films under the stars!
Films include:
The Streif — Fabio Wibmer (Austria, 2024, 3 min)
River Mamma (USA, 2023, 11 min)
109 Below (USA, 2023, 14 min)
Keep it Burning (France, 2024, 33 min)
Welcome to the Pit (Canada, 2024, 15 min)
Undammed (USA, 2024, 17 min)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5
Banff Centre’s Mountain Culture and Indigenous Arts programs invite you to the screening of Stories We Have Earned: The Stoney Nakoda Film Project (Canada, 2024, directed by Cody Lefthand). This film examines the exploitation of the Îyârhe Nakoda people’s culture and customs for entertainment through their involvement in Banff Indian Days, the Calgary Stampede, and dozens of Hollywood films.
In case of inclement weather, outdoor screenings will take place indoors in the Max Bell Auditorium.
Jazz & Sonic Arts
Program Director: Piotr Turkiewicz
Banff Centre’s Jazz & Sonic Arts program pushes the boundaries of contemporary soundscapes using improvisation, experimentation, and technology to expand the sonic possibilities of music. Audiences will be introduced to an array of international artists who are on the cutting edge of their discipline.
Details on faculty and participant concerts and performances at CLVB '33 will be confirmed shortly. For more information, scan the QR code or visit banffcentre.ca/jazzevents
Myrsini Bekakou (violin, arranger), Olivia Jones (bass clarinet), Nicholas Dourado (soprano saxophone), Matt Smith (trumpet). Jazz & Sonic Arts Participant Concert, photo by Rita Taylor.
Music programming is made possible through the generous support of the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.
Art you can eat
If you’re eager to enhance your Festival experience, there’s no need to wait for showtime—get your Banff Centre visit started by exploring our two renowned dining options for a pre-show bite and beverage.
From pre-concert meals to post-opera drinks, our menus reflect both our local flavours and our international community. Executive Chef Sebastien Tessier works with suppliers who prioritize environmental sustainability, ensuring every dish isn’t just delicious but thoughtfully sourced.
Maclab Bistro
Overlooking the Shaw Amphitheatre, the Maclab Bistro patio isn’t just a great place to dine, but to take in a sunset or performance too.
At this casual fine dining restaurant, you can grab a coffee in the morning, debrief over a drink in the evening, and everything in between. Our beloved burger is the centrepiece of the à la carte menu, which also features an impressive selection of craft cocktails and mocktails.
(Pro tip: consider getting your meal to go, so you can enjoy it on the lawn outside!)
Find out more at banffcentre.ca/maclab-bistro
Vistas Dining Room
Have a Rundle-sized appetite?
Spectacular wrap-around views give this buffet-style restaurant its name. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, Vistas Dining Room is home to a diverse menu that changes daily, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. And itʼs great for groups!
Maclab Bistro, photo by Rita Taylor.
MONDAY AUGUST 25
21st Century Haydn Round
Quartets perform a recital of Haydn and a quartet written in 2000 or later.
Concert 1 2 PM
Concert 2 7:30 PM
BISQC Director: Barry Shiffman
TUESDAY AUGUST 26
21st Century Haydn Round
Quartets perform a recital of Haydn and a quartet written in 2000 or later.
Concert 3 10:30 AM
Concert 4 2 PM
Concert 5 7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27
Romantic Round
Quartets perform a complete quartet from the Romantic or nationalistic repertoire of the 19th century.
Concert 6 2 PM
Concert 7 7:30 PM
“Banff Centre is not just music, it’s arts and creativity and sciences and activity. You feel like you’re in the epicentre of all the things that bring joy to humans.”
Isidore String Quartet, 2022 BISQC winners
THURSDAY AUGUST 28
Romantic Round
Quartets perform a complete quartet from the Romantic or nationalistic repertoire of the 19th century.
Concert 8 10 AM Alumni Concert
Featuring BISQC winners the Isidore String Quartet, and friends. 8 PM
Photo by Tevin Trinh, Unsplash.
“The ultimate battle of the string quartets... Every three years at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, young musicians battle to be named the top string quartet—and maybe win a career on a platter.”
Maclean’s
FRIDAY
AUGUST 29
Kati Agócs
World Premiere
All quartets perform Canadian composer Kati Agócs’ Rapprochement
Concert 9 10 AM
Viennese Waltz Night
The splendor of Austria comes to BISQC with an evening of dancing, live music, desserts, and wine from the region. 8 PM
AUGUST 30 SUNDAY AUGUST 31
Beethoven/ Schubert + 20th Century Round
Quartets perform Beethoven or Schubert, plus a complete work from the 20th century.
Concert 10 10 AM
Concert 11 2 PM
Concert 12 7:30 PM
Announcement of the three finalist quartets following jury deliberation.
Finals Round
The three finalist quartets present a 45-minute curated program which includes a minimum of three different composers.
Concert 13 2 PM Awards Ceremony 7:30 PM
All concerts in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Get tickets at banffcentre.ca/bisqc Banff Centre Box Office: 1.800.413.8368
BISQC is a member of:
Ask the Banff Centre Curators
What are you excited about in your programming this Banff Centre
Summer
Arts Festival?
Kerry Stauffer Media, Film, and Digital
All of the programming is exciting to me—attend as much as you can! There is such a diverse offering of performance and artists across all disciplines and genres. Attend something you know you love, and attend something that is completely new to you! You’ll love it!
Joanna Croston
Mountain Culture
Sharing some of the most impactful stories from the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival with summer audiences is always rewarding. It seems like the entire Bow Valley comes out for our outdoor film screenings. What’s not to like—great films, outdoors on the side of the mountain, stars twinkling overhead. That’s pretty magical. But there’s so much diversity of programming, you’ll never find yourself bored. Soak it all in!
Janine Windolph
Indigenous Arts
I’m excited about the artists who bring their gifts to each event and program—to share them with our audiences is a privilege! Both the artists and the audiences are why I love working at Banff Centre. And the best way to experience it all is to have someone to talk to, so mark your calendars early and encourage your friends and family to join you!
Amiel Gladstone
Theatre Arts
I’m excited for the opportunity to hear world-class musicians tackle tricky and relevant repertoire, and the camaraderie that happens when we gather to work on something and then share it with audiences. I’m excited to see the work, meet the artists, and enjoy the mountain air—I hope audiences are too.
Derek Beaulieu Literary Arts
The writers included in Literary Journalism and Summer Writers come to Banff Centre from around the world, and they will be mentored by exceptional writers. These folks, and the residents, are the best. My advice: Check out an artist, an author, a performance, which you have never heard of—and give over to the possibility that your mind may be blown.
Jacqueline Bell Visual Arts and Walter Phillips Gallery
This summer’s Visual Arts residency programming presents numerous opportunities for audiences to engage with artists and faculty, including a panel discussion on contemporary Métis art in Canada by celebrated faculty for the program Kapishkum: Métis Gathering, two Open Studio events, and numerous public lectures. I’m excited to welcome visitors to these events and our exhibition this summer at Walter Phillips Gallery, Elliptical Lineages!
Banff Centre’s programs have exciting events like these all year long— see you on campus soon!
Opposite: View from Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain, Banff, photo by Nahanni McKay.
Experience the Arts In Person & On Demand!
Banff Centre brings you world-class performances all year long—whether you’re joining us in person for must-see theatre and concerts this fall, or streaming breathtaking films anytime with Banff on Demand.
Watch Films at Home
Banff on Demand
Enjoy mountain culture and adventure films throughout the year! Programs feature four to eight films. FROM $18.50 PER PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN CANADA/USA watch.banffcentre.ca/banffondemand
Kohkomʼs Babushka
By Joleen Ballendine and Lianna Makuch
Directed by Lianna Makuch
OCTOBER 10, 15, 17, & 18
A heartwarming show for the whole family, Kohkom’s Babushka is based on the children’s book by Prairie author Marion Mutala. Celebrating cultural traditions, generosity, and friendship, it tells the story of a Métis family and a Ukrainian family meeting for the first time.
Performance Schedule
Previews: October 10 at 7 PM | October 15 & 17 at 2 PM
Premiere: October 18 at 2 PM
Left: From the film Above Sinai, photo by Abdrahman Aldakiki. Right: Margaret Greenham Theatre Audience, photo by Rita Taylor.
FILMS THEATRE
The New Play Productions are generously supported by The Slaight Family Foundation.
MARGARET GREENHAM THEATRE
Join us November 1 – 9, 2025 to celebrate our 50th Anniversary! Featuring films, speakers, adventurers, exhibitions, festival marketplace, and so much more!
Festival Passes
On sale now
Chomolungma Festival Pass
The ultimate festival adventure!
$1650 | Tickets to nine days of events (including Symposium), parking, VIP social, online film pass, and more! Limited quantities.
Weekend Pass
$425 | Tickets to all events in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre on Nov 1 – 3 or Nov 7 – 9, online film pass, and more!
Passholders get JBT priority seating and first access to Banff Centre hotel bookings.
Fire and Ice Symposium
The Stories We Tell
A public symposium exploring the role of storytelling to create positive impact and action, through the lens of changing ice and wildfire.
$190 | Symposium Pass On sale now Keynote speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and closing reception. NOV 4 – 5
Festival Tickets On sale August 7
Find out More:
Photo by Paul Zizka.
Change lives. Inspire creativity.
“This residency at Banff Centre has inspired my work in many ways. The one probably most obvious way is the time that it’s allowed, and I think most artists don’t have that kind of time. I’m a mom of three. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years now, and to have three weeks to practice, even if nothing comes easily—like a song isn’t written from start to finish. But to practice and exercise and start flexing the muscle of songwriting on a daily basis for as many hours as I like, that’s really precious. I don’t know if it’ll ever happen again.”
Erin Propp, photo by Rita Taylor.
Erin Propp Banff Musician in Residence 2024
HOW TO FEST
See you on campus!
Banff Centre is located on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain, easily accessible from downtown Banff but still off the beaten path. Here’s how to reach us:
Town of Banff
TUNNELMOUNTAINDRIVE
Town of Canmore
On Foot
Campus is a quick 15–20 minute walk from Banff up the Ken Madsen path. Prepare for stairs!
By Bike
Once you make it up the hill on St. Julien Road, Banff Centre has plenty of bike parking.
By Car
Travelers from outside of Banff can easily access Banff Centre off Highway 1 and Banff Avenue. We also offer free parking for audiences in our parkade.
Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival Off-Campus Locations
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Campus 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, Banff
1 Banff Legion 92 Banff Avenue, Banff
2 Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies 111 Bear Street, Banff
3 artsPlace 950 8 Avenue, Canmore
Box Office
Located inside the Jenny Belzberg Theatre Lobby
Lloyd Hall & Professional Development Centre
Maclab Bistro
Located on the 1st floor of the Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation
Vistas Dining Room
Located on the 3rd floor of the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Building
