Funding Opportunities for Artists

Banff Centre Artist Fund

Banff Centre's Artists' Fund provides financial support to artists in many of our programs including full scholarships for Canadian Indigenous participants. Please fill out the Financial Aid question when you apply for your program to be eligible. 

• Standard scholarship

Thanks to Banff Centre’s generous doors, financial aid is available for most participants who attend Banff Centre programs. Depending on the program, this funding will cover 100% program fee and a portion of on-campus accommodations and meal plan. There are no cash awards. 

See the Fees section on each program page for information about Standard Scholarship funding available.

• Canadian Indigenous scholarship

Thanks to Banff Centre’s generous doors, financial aid is available for all self declared Canadian Indigenous participants who attend any Banff Centre Arts program. This funding will cover 100% of the program fee, on-campus accommodations and meal plan. There are no cash awards. 

Banff Centre Named Scholarship Funds

There is no requirement to apply for the additional named scholarships, the system will automatically identify those eligible for review and you will be contacted by our admissions office if successful. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English, as this is the language of instruction and official communication at Banff Centre. All successful applicants of a named scholarship will be expected to write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of your program.

• Benediktson Fellowship Fund for International Artists

Thanks to the generous support of the Benediktson family, fellowships are awarded annually to international participants at Banff Centre across all artistic disciplines. Preference is given to artists who are citizens and residents of Iceland or Mexico.

The Benediktson Fellowship Fund for International Artists covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance.

• Fondation David R. Graham Scholarships

Through the generous support of Fondation David R. Graham, scholarships are available to artists with French citizenship residing in France or one of the following French territories: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French Southern And Antarctic Lands, Mayotte, Réunion, or Saint Pierre And Miquelon. 

The Fondation David R. Graham Scholarship covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance.

• Jim Prentice Memorial Endowment Scholarships

Through the generous support of the Prentice family and friends, scholarships are available annually to Canadian Indigenous women living in northern or other remote communities who are enrolled in an Indigenous Arts or Indigenous Leadership program at Banff Centre.

The Jim Prentice Memorial Endowment Scholarships covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance, plus other agreed expenses. 

• Liz Crockford Artists Fund

Through the generous support of the Crockford family, scholarships are available annually to Canadians enrolled in any arts discipline at Banff Centre. You will be expected to write a thank you letter to the donor at the end of your program.

The Liz Crockford Artists Fund covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance.

• Maria Francisca Josepha Brouwer Scholarship Endowment fund for Dutch Musicians

Through the generous support of an anonymous donor, scholarships are available annually to Dutch artists residing in the The Netherlands who attend Banff Centre's music, opera or dance programs.

The Maria Francisca Josepha Brouwer Scholarship Endowment fund for Dutch Musicians covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance.

• Paul D. Fleck Fellowships

Banff Centre grants Paul D. Fleck Fellowships to artists whose unique achievements and innovation distinguish them in the arts community. The fellowships recognize the achievement of these gifted artists by providing them the opportunity to create new work using the resources of Banff Centre to develop and refine their projects. The Paul D. Fleck Scholarship Trust was named in honour of this former president of Banff Centre (1982-1992). 

The fellowships are awarded centrally through Banff Centre's Arts Programming Office and on the recommendation of the department director. 

• Raul Urtasun - Frances Harley Scholarship for Young Emerging Artists from Argentina

Through the generous support of Raul Urtasun and Frances Harley, scholarships are available annually to artists from Argentina who are enrolled in visual arts, music, audio, dance, theatre production or literary arts programs at Banff Centre. Eligible applicants will be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive); a permanent resident of Argentina or an Argentinean national who considers Argentina to be their permanent place of residence but who is temporarily based elsewhere for their studies or professional development. Preference will be given to applicants who are graduates of the baccalaureate school, Colegio Nacional Jose M Estrada, Quilmes, in the province of Buenos Aires. 

The Raul Urtasun - Frances Harley Scholarship for Young Emerging Artists from Argentina covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance.

• Sir Jack Lyons Scholarship for the Arts

Through the generous support of Sir Jack Lyons Charitable Trust, scholarships are available annually to one or more artists from Israel in the disciplines of music, dance, or film. Preference will be giving to artists who hold citizenship and reside in Israel.

The Sir Jack Lyons Scholarship for the Arts covers 100% of the program fee, onsite accommodations and meal plan and travel assistance.

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