Spring/Summer 2016 Literary Arts Programs

This month we wrap up our fall programs. John Freeman and Suketu Mehta worked with eight participants on projects related to home in a world of migration and immigration. Karen Connelly and Alison Pick led the Centre’s first Memoir Residency with guest faculty Alexandra Fuller.  We also had the pleasure of hosting Salman Rushdie in conversation with Eleanor Wachtel for the sold-out western Canadian launch of his new novel, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights.  You can watch the full event on our new website banffcentre.ca and syndicated nationally on Writers & Company on CBC.

On that note, we are excited to announce that our Spring/Summer 2016 programs are now open for applications. In addition to Writing Studio, BILTC (our unique literary translation program), Literary Journalism, Digital Narratives and our Self-Directed writing residency,  our Spring programs include a five-day intensive on Historical Fiction with Lawrence Hill, and Frontline: Environmental Reportage, a two-week residency focused on environmental writing. Guest faculty include Chris Turner (his upcoming book The Patch, a definitive look at the oil sands, releases in 2016), and Michelle Nijhuis, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker’s Elements blog. For those of you looking for our Spoken Word program, it will return in 2017.

Lastly, we are very pleased to announce new faculty for our upcoming midwinter Crime Writing Residency. Louise Welsh joins Michael Robotham as co-lead. Louise is a Glasgow-based novelist, and has won numerous awards for her work in the literary crime genre. Additionally, last month, Michael Robotham won the Crime Writing Association’s Gold Dagger Award for best crime novel of the year, beating Stephen King and J.K. Rowling with his novel Life or Death. From February 14 -28, our crime faculty will be working closely with eight participants on their manuscripts. Please join us for writing time, seminars on the craft, and editorial consultations. Applications for Crime close November 12 - apply here. 

Devyani Saltzman
Director, Literary Arts