Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography 2026

Overview  

Created by the friends and family of the late artist Barbara Spohr, the Barbara Spohr Memorial Award for Photography encourages the development of Canadian contemporary photography by providing financial and creative assistance to a mid-career artist making a compelling contribution to the field. 

This annual award supports one mid-career Canadian artist (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) working in photography to undertake a fully funded residency at the Banff Centre.

Description

During this month-long self-directed residency, the award winner will have

• 24/7 access to the Crich Studio, a Leighton Artist Studio featuring private analogue darkroom facilities.
• access to digital photographic production.
• production support from the photography facilitator at Banff Centre.
• the option of giving a public talk with an associated fee at CARFAC-based rates.

Please note that limited darkroom supplies are available for purchase. The award winner should anticipate bringing supplies as needed for their project.

This residency is designed for participation over the entire program period. Variable dates will not be considered.

Requirements

Applications are open to Canadian mid-career photo-based artists with a strong exhibition record. 

For the purposes of this program, mid-career is defined as having

• a strong body of work with a minimum of ten exhibitions in a professional context, such as artist-run centres, public art galleries, recognized photo festivals, etc.
• 8 to 15 years of professional arts experience.
• demonstrated commitment to professional practice.

Applicants should demonstrate proficiency with darkroom processes, with an awareness of safety procedures.

The program suits those focused on

• working on a specific project.
• creating new works.
• exploring and researching innovative ideas.

Eligibility

Applicants must be 18+ at the time of the program start date. 

Applicants must be Canadian, a Permanent Resident or eligible under the terms of the Jay Treaty.

Inclusivity Statement

We welcome applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply. Artists from historically underrepresented and equity deserving groups are especially welcome.