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Program Information
Program faculty Ai Jang, Premee Mohamed, and Amal El-Mohtar
Dates
Application Deadline: April 16, 2025
Program Dates: September 08 - September 19, 2025
Overview
Science Fiction is a self-directed residency that provides writers with the time and space to focus on their work away from the constraints of everyday life. During the two-week residency science fiction writers can take advantage of one-on-one mentorship opportunities with faculty, group discussions, and a community of artistic peers.
Faculty include Premee Mohamed, Ai Jiang, Amal Al-Mohtar, and professional guest Ali Fisher.
Description
This two-week self-directed residency provides participants with individual accommodation and a small private studio for writers to focus, reconnect, and re-energize their writing practice. In addition, participants will be able to engage with other science fiction writers on the program.
As a flexible self-directed program with optional elements, the Science Fiction residency allows you to choose the amount of support you are looking for.
Optional program elements include:
- thematic teachings from science fiction specialists Premee Mohamed, Ai Jiang, Amal Al-Mohtar, and professional guest Ali Fisher.
- one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty to discuss ideas, experiences and obstacles.
- Q & A sessions.
- public readings.
- workshops to discuss useful techniques, devices and aspects.
Requirements
The residency is designed to cater to experienced, professional writers with a publication record looking to explore the future of Science Fiction writing and focus on works in progress.
Participants will benefit most if they are comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment. The residency suits those focused on:
- working on a specific project.
- creating new works.
This program is run in English and only accepts projects that are being written in English. English is the language of Banff Centre correspondence.
Eligibility
Applicants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date.
Domestic and international applications are welcome.
Visa Eligibility Information:
- Please note that Banff Centre programs do not meet the eligibility requirements for a Canadian Student Visa.
- If you are accepted into our program, you must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada. Accepted participants are responsible for identifying and complying with the immigration requirements to enter Canada as a visitor from their country of origin. If you require a Visitor Visa please check the current expected processing times well in advance of applying.
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.
Itinerary
- September 7 - Arrival
- September 8 - Orientation and welcome reception
- September 10, 12, 17 - Faculty talks
- September 11, 16, 18 - Public readings
- September 19 - Farewell reception
- September 20 - Departure
All dates are subject to change. One-on-one sessions with mentors will be booked during program dates.
Faculty
Premee Mohamed
Premee Mohamed is a Nebula, World Fantasy, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. She has also been a finalist for the Hugo, Ignyte, Locus, British Fantasy, and Crawford awards. Currently, she is the 2024 Edmonton Public Library writer-in-residence and an Assistant Editor at the short fiction audio venue Escape Pod. She is the author of the Beneath the Rising series of novels as well as several novellas. Her short fiction has appeared in many venues and she can be found on her website.
Faculty
Ai Jang
Ai Jiang is a Chinese-Canadian writer, Ignyte, Bram Stoker, and Nebula Award winner, and Hugo, Astounding, Locus, Aurora, and BFSA Award finalist from Changle, Fujian currently residing in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can be found in F&SF, The Dark, The Masters Review, among others. She is the recipient of Odyssey Workshop's 2022 Fresh Voices Scholarship and the author of Linghun and I AM AI. The first book of her novella duology, A Palace Near the Wind, is forthcoming 2025 with Titan Books.
Faculty
Amal El-Mohtar
Amal El-Mohtar is an award-winning writer of fiction, poetry, and criticism. Her stories and poems have appeared in magazines including Tor.com, Fireside Fiction, Lightspeed, Uncanny, Strange Horizons, Apex, Stone Telling, and Mythic Delirium; anthologies including The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories (2017), The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales (2016), Kaleidoscope: Diverse YA Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories (2014), and The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities (2011); and in her own collection, The Honey Month (2010). She is co-author, with Max Gladstone, of the multiple award-winning This is How You Lose the Time War. Her articles and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, NPR Books and on Tor.com. She has been the New York Times's science fiction and fantasy columnist since February 2018, and she is represented by DongWon Song of HMLA
Faculty
Ali Fisher
Ali Fisher (she/her) is an executive editor at Tor Publishing Group within Macmillan Publishers. Since 2016, she has acquired and edited fiction and nonfiction for adults, teens, and middle-grade readers, and published more than ten books onto the New York Times best seller lists. She acquires for all of Tor Publishing Group's imprints—Tor, Forge, Nightfire, Bramble, Tordotcom, Tor Teen, and Starscape—primarily speculative fiction and humorous nonfiction.
Professional Guest
What's Included
Meal Plan
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Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Regular meal plan is equivalent to $53 credit per day, equivalent to two meals at our Buffet service.
Accommodation
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Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Studio Space
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Create in the privacy of one of our specialized studios.
Showcase Your Work
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This program offers opportunities to showcase your work-in-progress.
Group Seminars/Workshops
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Group seminars and workshops with faculty.
Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives
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The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives are delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty
Campus Facilities
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- Participant Resources: Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided.
- Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre: Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym and fitness suite as well as discounted rates for classes.
- Box Office Discounts: Enjoy special artist rates or complimentary access for ticketed performances.
Fees & Financial Assistance
Application Fee
$65 for individuals, $35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous.
The application fee is non-refundable. 100% of this fee goes towards the cost of administering the application in SlideRoom.
Scholarships
We are pleased to offer scholarships to support participants in our program. Below are details regarding the scholarship amount and how they are applied.
- Standard scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, and 50% of meals and accommodation costs
- Canadian Indigenous scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, meals, and accommodation costs
If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
Help fund your experience at Banff Centre by view a compiled list of national and international opportunities here.
Cancellations
Information on our cancellation policy can be found here.
Tax Information
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. You will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Step 1:
Complete the Online FormStep 2:
Please login with the username and password emailed to you on completion of step 1.
Step 3:
Upload Your MaterialsResume
A one to two-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience.
Cover Letter
A one-page cover letter explaining why you are interested in this program and what you hope to achieve by attending it.
Project Proposal
A one-page description of your proposed work-in-progress. This summary may be used as a narrative for administrative and public use.
Portfolio
Please provide an excerpt from the work-in-progress that you intend to work on during the program (maximum 10 pages).
Financial Assistance
Be sure to complete the Financial Aid question in SlideRoom to be eligible for financial assistance.
Adjudication
Participants are chosen by an adjudication panel comprising of internal and external assessors. The selection criteria include:
- Quality, originality and artistic merit.
- Required skills and experience.
- The potential for the applicant's work to benefit from the program.
- Banff Centre’s ability to support the project.
Our programs are highly competitive with a limited number of places available. Applicants will be notified of their selection status as soon as the adjudication process is complete. Due to the high volume of applications individual feedback will not be provided.
Disclaimer
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Contact Admissions
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
Toll Free Number (Canada + USA)
1.800.565.9989
Phone
403.762.6180