Summer Arts Festival
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 “Minirhpa" (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 Metis Nation of Alberta, District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.
Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library and
Over the slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Voices and colours ripple across lakes and through the forest, connecting the heart of art, music, and words.
ART IS THE ULTIMATE CONNECTOR.
A powerful image, a selection of music, the subtle movement of a body or a good book can connect us to the world around us with such depth and soul. In a too-often divided world, art can be a bridge, speaking to a community in a universal language, forging human connection, and creating unbreakable unity.
At Banff Centre, artists, leaders, and visitors are encouraged to engage with the world’s most vexing questions and to take a risk on something new. We strive to be an incubator where individuals can create connections, build mutual empathy, and explore pathways that both challenge and uplift one another.
In 2023, Banff Centre celebrated its 90th anniversary, the culmination of nine decades of investing in artists and leaders. Banff Centre was established at the height of the Great Depression in 1933 in response to the region’s desire to have more cultural experiences available to local families, many who had just immigrated to Canada from Europe.
Since then, Banff Centre has evolved to offer dozens of programs that have nurtured the careers of more than 115,000 artists and leaders.
Hundreds of thousands more have visited Banff Centre’s exceptional facilities to take in a performance or exhibition, attend a conference, enjoy fine dining, and experience globally renowned events like the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival and the Banff International String Quartet Competition.
As we begin the countdown to our 100th anniversary, we are committed to responding to the needs of the artists and leaders of today by ensuring that our training and programming continues to address the evolving opportunities and challenges that face our sector. It is Banff Centre’s goal to inspire individuals attending our programs to dream the culture forward, conceiving powerful ideas and devising impactful solutions that can make the world better for all of us.
The 2024 Banff Summer Arts Festival celebrates these themes of connection and creativity, bringing together artists who will build on the rich legacy of those who came before them. Our campus and facilities will come to life this summer with a full suite of events across genres and disciplines, giving you – our audience – the chance to experience the peaks and valleys of the human experience through artistic expression.
I am proud of the programs curated by our team of artistic directors –from intimate gatherings to full-scale productions to a rare peek behind the curtain into the artistic process. This range of activities ensures that the Summer Arts Festival has something for everyone.
We look forward to seeing you on the Banff Centre campus this Summer!
Chris Lorway President & CEO Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Summer Arts Festival
JUNE – SEPT 2024
by
Photo
Donald Lee.
LITERARY ARTS Participant Readings Hosted
Photo by Dahlia Katz.
Joanna MacGregor
Photo by Donald Lee.
Art of Piano Events:
See below for more)
LITERARY
Photo by Udoma Janssen.
Opening Concert with Cheng2 Duo RRH | 2:30 pm
James Ehnes, Ehnes Quartet, Barry Shiffman JBT | 7:30 pm
Fifty for the Future with David Harrington of Kronos Quartet RRH | 10:30 am
Israeli Chamber Project RRH | 2:30 pm
Isidore String Quartet with Andy Milne, James Ehnes, Edward Arron RRH | 7:30 pm
Ehnes Quartet RRH | 10:30 am
Jeremy Eichler, Banff Festival Strings RRH | 2:30 pm
Finale Concert: Viano Quartet with Adrian Fung RRH | 7:30 pm
SCREENING Films from the Mountain Film Festival AMP | 8:30 pm
SCREENING Mixed Films: Indigenous Arts & Mountain Culture AMP | 8:30 pm
The Box Office will be open 30 minutes prior to all live performances for in-person ticket sales. Jenny Belzberg Theatre Lobby Tickets from $20
Accessibility Requests
If you have mobility or other accessibility needs, please inform our Box Office team as soon as possible so that we can provide you with information regarding the best services and resources.
Photo by Donald Lee.
Photo by Andrej
Grilc.
CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF CREATIVITY AT BANFF CENTRE
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.
Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives.
Photo by Donald Lee.
LOOKING BACK
Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival
A vibrant legacy of the arts
W ITH A RICH HISTORY THAT BEGAN IN 1933, Banff Centre has nurtured and provided artists with summer programming and the opportunity to showcase their talents to the Bow Valley community. In August 1950, the concept of holding an annual Festival Week was introduced, providing a dedicated focus to making the Theatre, Music, and Fine Arts programs accessible to a wider audience. In 1980, the Banff Festival of the Arts expanded to a series of events that spanned the summer months which continues to showcase dance, opera, music, talks by visual and literary artists, exhibitions, and so much more.
Let’s Connect!
AN INTEGRAL PART OF BANFF CENTRE’S PEDAGOGICAL MODEL in our artistic programming is offering the opportunity for artists to showcase works-in-progress to an engaged audience. This is also a treasured chance for audiences to witness aspects of the artmaking process that are often hidden. Artists continue to remark that Banff Centre provides a soft place to experiment – a critical and often underappreciated part of their artistic creation process.
In a special way, audiences at Banff Centre become part of the creative process for many artists.
Audiences at Banff Centre regularly get to see, hear, feel, and touch the world premiere of an artistic work: innovative visual arts exhibitions, the first time a song is performed live, the fruits of a dance residency about to go on a world tour, a groundbreaking novel yet to be released.
In addition to events related to programmatic activities where audiences get to see “behind the scenes,” Banff Centre welcomes touring artists and performers as a sought-after venue for fully developed shows. Audiences can laugh with comedians, groove with musicians, be inspired by exhibits, enjoy a film, immerse in the words from a reading, and much more.
There are a number of venues on campus. You can be dazzled by presentations in Banff Centre’s state of the art Jenny Belzberg Theatre, get cozy in one of the more intimate theatre settings, or enjoy art in the great outdoors in the Amphitheatre.
Forging a connection between artists and audiences is foundational to Banff Centre’s programmatic mission and our commitment to the Bow Valley community and beyond.
We can’t wait to see you!
Our past is connected to our present, always. Throughout this guide, this icon is used to indicate an event featuring Banff Centre alumni and their work.
Many events throughout the year are open to the public for free. This symbol is used through the guide to indicate a free event. Some free events require a ticket in advance.
$ Indicates a ticketed event. Tickets from $20.
of Paul D. Fleck Library
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity invites you to take part in National Indigenous History Month! Events are held in person at Banff Centre, online through our website, as well as in Banff and Canmore.
JUNE 1 – 30
Indigenous Virtual Market Online
JUNE
National Indigenous History Month
JUNE 6 | 4 PM Storytelling Session
JUNE 11 | 5 PM Dance Workshop
JUNE 21 | 7:30 PM
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Photo by Chris Amat.
Music & Opera at Banff Centre
OVER NINE DECADES, MUSIC AND OPERA PROGRAMS AT BANFF CENTRE have spanned a range of genres from classical to contemporary. In the mid-1930s, Banff Centre introduced a course in musical composition, interpretation, and performance for piano. By 1949, it laid the foundation for future opera programs with its first opera-specific course.
Since then, Banff Centre has featured opera productions almost every season including recent collaborations that continue to re-imagine opera for the 21st century through innovative programs and performances.
The music program continued to evolve with Thomas Rolston joining the school faculty in 1965 leaving a legacy in music programming and performances, with chamber music at its core.
In 1967, the Eric Harvie Theatre was opened to support artist performances, production, and training. Over the following 30 years, the music program expanded to include year-round offerings of multidisciplinary residencies for classical musicians, singer-songwriters, composers, indie bands, and more!
Banff Centre’s music programs offer a nurturing environment for artistic experimentation and growth, providing participants invaluable opportunities to accelerate their careers, connect with fellow artists, and build their skills and confidence.
Clayton Hare conducts strings students on the roof of Donald Cameron
Hall in 1957.
Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives.
Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library
INTRODUCING
Inter play
INTERPLAY CELEBRATES THE CONVERGENCE OF OPERA AND CHAMBER MUSIC and offers a platform for vocalists, instrumentalists, and other creatives to collaborate on both new works and revered masterpieces. Renowned leaders in opera and chamber music will combine forces to discover the dynamic synergy of these complementary artistic worlds and share this work through a series of public performances.
“This program is one of Banff Centre’s most ambitious, collaborative music and theatre projects in years.”
Amiel Gladstone, Director of Theatre Arts
The program will be centred around two Canadian operas: composer Daniel Schlosberg’s arrangement of Poul Ruders and Paul Bentley’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” after Margaret Atwood’s seminal work and Ian Cusson and Royce Vavrek’s “Indians on Vacation” based on the popular Thomas King novel. Artistic Director of Opera Joel Ivany selected these two works to give audiences a chance to experience how opera can take on contemporary ideas and stories.
A fusion of opera & chamber music
As both works are still in the early stages of development, Interplay invites audiences to play a role in the creative process. In addition to two public workshop concert performances, the evenings will include post-show discussions, providing audiences a candid window into the making of new opera.
Audiences can also enjoy chamber music performances of classical and new works that showcase nuanced musical dialogues and a rich, blended sound.
Interplay promises to be an exhilarating celebration of collaboration – a unique platform for the evolution of both opera and chamber music. Witness the convergence of voices, instruments, and vision, a journey into the heart of creative exploration.
Interplay is supported by the David Spencer Emerging Vocalists Endowment and the Yolande Freeze Master Artists in Music Fund.
Opera Pub
JUNE 7 & 28
BANFF LEGION 92 BANFF AVE 7 PM | FREE
A casual, wild night that offers up your favourite operatic arias and ensembles, performed by the participants and faculty of the program.
This is the perfect introduction for newcomers and a refreshing new take for opera vets who want to experience something a little different.
INTERPLAY: OPERA
Miriam Khalil.
Photo by Rita Taylor.
INTERPLAY: CHAMBER MUSIC
Chamber Music Mainstage Concerts
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
7:30 PM | $
Explore the intricate layers of chamber music as visiting artists guide you through a diverse array of styles. Witness the technical brilliance that has shaped the genre and immerse yourself in a vibrant world, where each piece acts as a unique hue in a sonic kaleidoscope.
“We need to be making music, telling stories, and creating art that is relevant for audiences today.”
Joel Ivany, Artistic Director of Opera
Landmarks
Borealis String Quartet and Faculty
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Kaleidoscope
Éric Le Sage
Cristina Gómez Godoy
Paolo Bortolussi and Faculty
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Borealis Quartet.
Photo by
Steven Lemay.
INTERPLAY: OPERA
The Handmaid’s Tale
Based on Margaret Atwood’s Novel
Composed by Poul Ruders Libretto by Paul Bentley Workshop showing of Daniel Schlosberg’s new arrangement
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
CHAMBER OPERA WORKSHOP
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE
7:30 PM | FREE
Don’t miss this exceptional chance to see the first workshop presentation of this seminal Canadian dystopian classic about a woman’s struggles in a totalitarian society, in a new chamber version commissioned by Banff Centre. Witness the early stages of an opera production before it premieres on stages near and far in the coming years.
INTERPLAY: OPERA
Indians on Vacation
Workshop showing of an opera adaptation of the beloved comedic novel by Thomas King
Composed by Ian Cusson Libretto by Royce Vavrek
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
CHAMBER OPERA WORKSHOP
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE
7:30 PM | FREE
A peek behind the curtain at the creative process in a workshop presentation of this light comic story of middle aged couple Mimi and Bird as they face ageing and each other on a spontaneous trip to Prague.
Featuring faculty member Marion Newman in the role of Mimi.
An Against the Grain and Edmonton Opera commission.
Chamber Music Concerts
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
7:30 PM | $
“Music is a universal language that moves and transforms us. Musicians are coming together from all over the world to connect and build skills for a dynamic industry.”
Megumi Masaki, Director of Music
Poetry
Jose Franch-Ballester, Joel Brennan, and musicians from the Interplay program
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Witness the intersection of tradition and innovation in this series of intimate performances. Embrace the timeless traditions with the avant-garde spirit and innovative techniques that breathe new life into the genre, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of chamber music.
Tapestry
Beverley Johnston and musicians from the Interplay program
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Epic
Interplay Trio, Jeffrey Stonehouse, Cordelia Paw , and musicians from the Interplay program
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
Left: Jose Franch-Ballester.
Photo by May Zircus.
Right: Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives.
INTERPLAY: CHAMBER MUSIC
LOOKING BACK
Celebrating Five Decades of Literary Arts at Banff Centre 1974 –2024
“Banff Centre is a writer’s paradise – offering a safe and inspirational environment for literary artists to push boundaries and explore their full potential with the support of exceptional mentors and peers.”
Dr. Derek Beaulieu, Director of Literary Arts, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
THIS YEAR BANFF CENTRE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF LITERARY ARTS PROGRAMMING.
Since its foundation, Literary Arts at Banff Centre has become a globally renowned creative catalyst for established and emerging writers.
Initiated in 1974 by W.O. Mitchell, Literary Arts programs at Banff Centre are known to push the boundaries of Canadian and international conventions and foster growth among alumni.
This 50th anniversary milestone represents an opportunity to look back on five decades of exceptional Canadian and international writing, and to look ahead with postsecondary educational programs that are responsive to the needs of artists of today and tomorrow.
Many of the country’s awardwinning writers have been residents or faculty at the Centre. Banff Centre alumni are consistently published nationally and internationally and recognized by literary awards – including the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Griffin Poetry Prize, the GovernorGeneral’s Award, the Lambda Literary Award, and more.
Banff Centre continues to widen its reach to new artists. We welcome audiences to witness the act of creation and experimentation in literature: to be surprised by the high-wire act of contemporary writing and to think “Wow, I didn’t know that writing could do that!”
Recent writing residencies have included science fiction and fantasy, young adult fiction, children’s books, graphic novels, and formbased writing. Literary programs have also explored computational writing, where authors use code, computer programming, and AI to imagine new ways of considering creativity and authorship.
Dialogue and collaboration upholds both individual artistic practices and writing as a communitydriven, communitarian act. It is an act of creative conversation, of inspired collaboration that reaches across demographics, languages, identities, nations, and histories.
Banff Centre creates educational opportunities for writers looking for new ways to write, new positions to take, and new perspectives on the world’s literature, responsive to the current needs of literary artists to work in an evolving field.
With the support from a vibrant writing community, Banff Centre encourages artists to take risks, learn and share, and participate in a broader, deeper artistic conversation.
Photo by Rita Taylor.
LITERARY ARTS READINGS
Kyo Maclear & Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Readings
THURSDAY, JUNE 13
Program Participants
Readings
JUNE 18 & 20
Literary Journalism: Memoir
JUNE 13, 18, & 20
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
7 PM | FREE
Kyo Maclear (author of Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets) and CBC’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud (author of Son of Elsewhere) will host three free evenings of readings of their own work, followed by Banff Centre’s Memoir residents sharing work-in-progress. This is an opportunity to demystify the writing process and get a sneak peek into new memoirs from the world’s finest writers.
The Literary Journalism: Memoir program is supported by the Rogers Communications Chair in Literary Journalism Endowment Fund.
Summer Writers
AUGUST 1, 6, & 8
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
7 PM | FREE
Faculty of the Summer Writers program, Sina Queyras (Governor-General’s Award nominee and Lambda Award recipient, author of Rooms: Women, Writing, Woolf) and A.E. Stallings (Oxford Professor of Poetry and author of This Afterlife: Selected Poems) will be sharing the stage with participants from the Summer Writers program in three free evenings of new work in poetry and prose.
Sina Queyras & A.E. Stallings
Readings
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
Program Participants
Readings
AUGUST 6 & 8
Left: Sina Queyras.
Photo courtesy of the artist. Right: A.E. Stallings.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Left: Kyo Maclear.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Right: Elamin Abdelmahmoud. Photo courtesy of the artist.
MAINSTAGE COMEDY
Ron James Not Nearly Done Yet!
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE 7:30 PM | $
Hailed by audiences and critics from coast to coast, multi-awardwinning comedian and best-selling author Ron James takes fans on a two-hour roller coaster ride. Cutting a wide swath through contemporary culture with an affably subversive razor-sharp wit and a poeticallycharged delivery, this show is an eclectic collection of brand-new material and road-honed classics.
LIVE AT MACLAB
Irish Mythen
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
MACLAB BISTRO 8:30 PM | $
Irish Mythen’s live performances are a thing of raw power, emotion and a connection with her audience that just has to be seen to be believed.
Irish Mythen.
Photo by Stewart MacLean.
Ron James.
Photo by Dahlia Katz.
INDIGENOUS ARTS
Cheryl L’Hirondelle
Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
7 PM | FREE
The Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series invites leading Indigenous Art creators to talk about their practices and processes. Explore and deepen your understanding of how Indigenous artists are using their arts discipline as a tool to decolonize artistic process and creation.
Cheryl L’Hirondelle (Cree/Halfbreed; German/ Polish) is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist, singer/songwriter and critical thinker with family roots from Papaschase First Nation / amiskwaciy wāskahikan and Kikino Metis Settlement.
Indigenous World Dance Residency Showcase
Hosted by Santee Smith
FRIDAY, JULY 26
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE
7:30 PM | FREE
Under the guidance of Alejandro Ronceria and Santee Smith , participants in the Indigenous World Dance Residency program are invited to express re-embodiment and Indigenous voices.
Join us for a captivating showcase featuring original works by Indigenous dance groups from around the world.
Left: Santee Smith.
Photo by Make Emarthle/Shutter Shell Studios.
Below: Intercultural Indigenous Choreographers Creation Lab, 2018.
Photo by Jessica Wittman.
Cheryl L’Hirondelle.
Photo by Tenille Campbell.
Hung-Kuan Chen
Bach, Schubert, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff
SATURDAY, JULY 6
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
7:30 PM | $
Pianist Hung-Kuan Chen was born in Taipei and raised in Germany. His early studies fostered strong roots in Germanic Classicism tempered with the sensibility of Chinese philosophy. The winner of the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition and Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the recipient of an Avery Fisher Grant, Chen has collaborated with conductors including Christoph Eschenbach and Hans Graf, and his colleagues include the Tokyo and Shanghai string quartets, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinists Cho-Liang Lin and Roman Totenberg, clarinetist David Shifrin, and pianist Tema Blackstone.
Marc-André Hamelin
OC, OQ, FRSC Ives, R. Schumann and Ravel
FRIDAY, JULY 12
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL 7:30 PM | $
“A performer of near-superhuman technical prowess” (The New York Times), pianist Marc-André Hamelin is known worldwide for his unrivalled blend of consummate musicianship and brilliant technique in the great works of the established repertoire, as well as for his intrepid exploration of the rarities of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. He regularly performs around the globe with the leading orchestras and conductors of our time and gives recitals at major concert venues and festivals worldwide.
Hung-Kuan Chen.
Photo by Dayan Liu.
Marc-André Hamelin.
Photo by Sim Canetty-Clarke.
Joanna MacGregor CBE From Bach to Tango
FRIDAY, JULY 19
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL
7:30 PM | $
One of the world’s most innovative musicians, appearing as a concert pianist, curator and conductor, MacGregor is Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music and Professor at the University of London. She runs an annual Summer Piano Festival at the Royal Academy and has just been appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Brighton Philharmonic. As a solo artist Joanna has performed in over eighty countries and appeared with many eminent conductors and orchestras, including the London Symphony and Sydney Symphony orchestras.
Piano Masterclasses
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL 1 PM | $
Learn from world-renowned pianists as they mentor rising stars.
JULY 8
HUNG-KUAN CHEN
JULY 9
TEMA BLACKSTONE
JULY 10 & 11
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN
JULY 15 & 16
JOANNA MACGREGOR
Participant Piano Concerts
JULY 9, 17 & 18
ROLSTON RECITAL HALL 7:30 PM | FREE
Art of Piano is an innovative development program for early and mid-career pianists to hone skills and discover their artistic voice. Be inspired by brilliant performances of the next generation of piano artists.
Joanna MacGregor. Photo by Pal Hansen.
Art of Piano is supported by Heather Edwards and Artemisia Foundation, Tema Blackstone.
Amp Sessions
Join us all summer for a laid-back and fun-filled musical break in the Shaw Amphitheatre!
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Mari Rosehill
TUESDAY, JULY 9
Bring your whole crew, pack a picnic or get food from Maclab Bistro, and grab your lawn chair to soak up some sunshine while enjoying the incredible talents of Bow Valley local artists.
Photo courtesy of Mari Rosehill.
Photo courtesy of Nurdjana.
TUESDAY, JULY 23
Todd Clarkson
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6
Liam Cowan
Photo courtesy of Todd Clarkson.
Photo courtesy of Liam Cowan.
OUTDOOR CONCERT
IN A LANDSCAPE:
Classical Music in the Wild™
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
SHAW AMPHITHEATRE
7 PM | $
Founded in 2016 by classical pianist Hunter Noack , IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™ is an outdoor concert series where America’s most stunning landscapes replace the traditional concert hall. A 1912 Steinway model D concert grand piano travels on a flatbed trailer to awe-inspiring natural landscapes across the West, from national parks to urban oases. Guests are encouraged to wander and explore the surrounding environment while listening to the music through wireless headphones, creating an immersive and intimate experience that fosters a connection with the music, nature, and with one another.
Photo by Arthur Hitchcock
OUTDOOR FILM SCREENINGS
Films from the 48th Mountain Film Festival and World Tour
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
SHAW AMPHITHEATRE
8:30 PM | FREE
Films include:
Fuego, The Best Skier You’ve Never Heard of, One Degree #Peru, Subterranean (Tour Edit), Mustafa Ceylan, Driving Sweep, Range Rider, and Two Point Four.
Mixed Films from Indigenous Arts and Mountain Culture
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
SHAW AMPHITHEATRE
8:30 PM | FREE
Films include: Stories Are In Our Bones, Our Maternal Home, and Slides on the Mountain.
Outdoor Film Screenings at Banff Centre.
LOOKING BACK Visual Arts at Banff Centre
BANFF CENTRE VISUAL ARTS BEGAN WITH AN OUTDOOR PAINTING COURSE HELD BY A.C. LEIGHTON IN 1935. Within five years, additional programs were established by H.G. Glyde and Walter J. Phillips, their painting classes evolving from dozens of students to hundreds over their tenure. In the 1970s, Takao Tanabe led the painting division and opened Walter Phillips Gallery and Glyde Hall. Over the decades, innovative programs have continued to support emerging, mid-career and established visual artists from across Canada and around the world.
Banff International Curatorial Institute Symposia
THURSDAY, JULY 11
JEANNE AND PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING, RICE STUDIO
1 – 4:30 PM | FREE
Art, Writing, Practice is a residency program and symposia on art writing with a particular focus on experimental forms. This half-day event will feature short talks by residency faculty Macarena Gómez-Barris and guest lecturer Jack Halberstam followed by a moderated discussion on their respective practices, as well as a conversation between faculty Tina Campt and guest lecturer, Saidiya Hartman. Featuring internationally recognized scholars at the forefront of their respective fields, this event will provide insight into their writing practices and subjects of research.
Participant Readings
THURSDAY, JULY 18
JEANNE AND PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING, RICE STUDIO 7 PM | FREE
At the close of the residency, participants in Art, Writing, Practice will share texts that they have developed over the course of the program. All are welcome to attend.
“Welcoming Bow Valley residents to our Visual Arts events and getting to know this amazing community is a deeply rewarding experience.”
Ingrid Mary Percy, Director of Visual Arts Residencies
ART, WRITING, PRACTICE
Left to Right: Macarena Gómez-Barris, Tina Campt, Jack Halberstam and Saidiya Hartman. Images courtesy of faculty and guest lecturers.
Visual Arts is supported by the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Outstanding Artist Program.
Takao
Tanabe with Visual Arts faculty Robert Young and an artist in Glyde Hall studio, 1975. Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives.
PUBLIC SOUND WORK
Lou Sheppard
Dawn Chorus, Evensong (Bow River Valley)
AUGUST 9 – SEPTEMBER 2
SHAW AMPHITHEATRE
8 AM AND 8 PM DAILY
Walter Phillips Gallery is thrilled to announce Dawn Chorus, Evensong (Bow River Valley), a newly commissioned audio-based work with accompanying visual scores by Canadian artist Lou Sheppard to be presented this summer in Banff Centre’s Shaw Amphitheatre. This seven-channel audio installation will be activated twice daily for one hour and is a continuation of a previous body of work commissioned for the 2019 edition of the Toronto Biennial of Art. Informed by the concept of the biophony, or sounds made by organisms within a given ecosystem, Dawn Chorus, Evensong (Bow River Valley) seeks to amplify and respond to the chorus of creatures audible on Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain at dawn and at dusk, times of increased activity in the forest.
The activation of the work also takes place at what might be understood as queer times of day, when visibility is lessened and ramifications of normative conceptions of gender perhaps less pervasive. Dawn Chorus, Evensong (Bow River Valley) is suggestive of the power of collective sounding as present within a biophony, where the pitches of a creature’s calls can allow them to be heard or concealed. The work’s installation in the man-made structure of the Amphitheatre as well as within the natural acoustic bowl created by the mountains makes use of these overlapping architectures for listening, amplification and transmission.
Please note Walter Phillips Gallery is closed for renovations from Summer 2024.
“This summer, Walter Phillips Gallery presents sound and scorebased works that will unfold in public spaces on campus, inviting reflection on our location.”
Jacqueline Bell, Walter Phillips Gallery Curator
Lou Sheppard, Dawn Chorus, Evensong (2019).
Scores. Courtesy the artist.
Spring Banff Artist in Residence Open Studios and Exhibition Tour, Cassils: Movement
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Get LIT! Thematic Residency Open Studios
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
Faculty Lectures
4 – 5:30 PM | FREE
The Visual Arts Open Lecture Series presents free talks by leading Canadian and international artists, curators, and academics.
August Klintberg
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
Joi T. Arcand
TUESDAY, JULY 2
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
VISUAL ARTS
Visual Arts Residencies Open Studios
JUNE 5 & JULY 24
GLYDE HALL STUDIOS
& JEANNE AND PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING
4 – 7 PM | FREE
At the end of each residency, participants in Visual Arts programs at Banff Centre open their studio doors to share the artistic research and artwork created, as well as the pertinent conversations generated in the program. Learn more about Visual Arts programs and the creative process by touring the studios of Glyde Hall and the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building. This is a truly exciting opportunity for the artists to share their work, and for the public to engage with artists on their creative process. You are welcome to explore the open studios at your leisure. Whether you are an artist, art appreciator, or a curious first-time viewer, all are encouraged to attend.
Whess Harman
MONDAY, JULY 8
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, ROOM 103
Michael
Turner
MONDAY, JULY 15
MAX BELL AUDITORIUM
Lori Blondeau
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
JEANNE AND PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING, ROOM 204
Elisabeth Belliveau
MONDAY, AUGUST 19
JEANNE AND PETER LOUGHEED BUILDING, ROOM 204
Cassils, Human Measure Rorschach, #1, 2024. Digital image. Photo: Manuel Vason. Design: Catherine Davies Bell. Courtesy of the artist.
MAINSTAGE CONCERT
National Youth Orchestra of Canada
Horizons Tour
MONDAY, JULY 29
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE
7:30 PM | $
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) proudly presents the 2024 Horizons Tour. Led by Canadian Music Director Naomi Woo, the Horizons Tour marks a triumphant return to Western Canada. Repertoire highlights include a world premiere by emerging composer Danial Sheibani, classics by Bartok, Hindemith, and Sibelius,
Errollyn Wallen’s “Mighty River” and a concerto performed by the 2024 Canada Council Michael Measures first prize winner. Join us to witness the talent of our nation’s top young musicians! This is the first time that we are welcoming the National Youth Orchestra of Canada to Banff Centre!
THEATRE
William Shakespeare’s As You Like It A Radical Retelling by Cliff Cardinal
AUGUST 2 & 3
MARGARET GREENHAM THEATRE
7:30 PM | $
The title of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It holds a double meaning that teasingly suggests this is a play to please all tastes. Is it possible? With his subversive updating of the Bard’s classic, cultural provocateur Cliff Cardinal seeks to find out. The show exults in bawdy humour, difficult subject matter, and raw emotion. Cast will be announced at each performance.
Photo courtesy of National Youth Orchestra.
Photo courtesy of Naomi Woo.
Photo by Dahlia Katz.
LOOKING BACK
Theatre at Banff Centre
LOOKING BACK
Jazz at Banff Centre
IN 1972 A CHANCE MEETING IN TORONTO INITIATED MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF JAZZ AT BANFF CENTRE. Then Banff Centre president David Leighton invited legendary Canadian jazz musicians Oscar Peterson and Phil Nimmons to create the summer Jazz Workshop in 1974 which laid the foundation for jazz training and performances in Banff. The first Jazz Orchestra Workshop and the first Vocal Jazz Workshops followed in the 1990s. The annual summer workshops have evolved from a daring, allCanadian experiment in jazz education to internationally acclaimed programs at the leading edge of developments in jazz, including the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music which began in the early 2000’s. Over the decades jazz programs at Banff Centre continue to support improvising jazz musicians and composers, with alumni having achieved prominence in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
BANFF CENTRE WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA AS THE BANFF SCHOOL OF DRAMA.
In the first two-week program, 190 students gathered in Banff in the old Brewster Auditorium on Banff Avenue. Playwriting was introduced into the Theatre Arts program in 1937.
In 1967, a new theatre at Banff Centre was unveiled, to support artist performances, production, and training. Banff Centre has helped shape some of the country’s most acclaimed performing arts productions. Following a major revitalization of the former Eric Harvie Theatre in 2022, audiences can now witness the creation of new works in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre, a state-of-the-art space to support the production and presentation of artistic work for decades to come.
Oscar Peterson instructing participants of the Jazz Workshop in July 1974.
Photo courtesy of Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives.
Photo
of Paul D. Fleck
Theatre at Banff Centre is supported by the Maclab Enterprises Endowment Fund and The Slaight Family Foundation.
Jazz at Banff Centre is supported by the Bruce McKinnon Memorial Endowment.
JAZZ & SONIC ARTS MAINSTAGE CONCERTS
Sonic Visionaries
Shabaka Hutchings, Ganavya, Charles Overton and Faculty
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE 7:30 PM | $
Join the most powerful voices at the forefront of jazz on a vibrant and fearless journey of sound exploration and new expressions.
Resounding
Takuya Kuroda, Aaron Choulai, Jodi Proznick, Shabaka Hutchings, and Faculty
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE 7:30 PM | $
Led by pioneers, legends and new vanguards of jazz, dive into an electrifying experience where musical innovation and creativity transcends boundaries.
Takuya Kuroda. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Shabaka Hutchings.
Photo by Udoma Janssen.
Gather Hear Listen
Aug 21 – 23
Visitors are invited to experience the commissioned audio-based work Dawn Chorus, Evensong (Bow Valley) by Lou Sheppard that will sound daily at 8am and 8pm in the Shaw Amphitheatre, presented by Walter Phillips Gallery; for more information, see pg 27.
21 22
Indigenous
Classical Music Concert
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE
7:30 PM | $
“Gather Listen Hear offers space for artistic dialogue and an exchange of methodologies between the faculty, participants, and artists while all reflecting on how we are in connection to the land around us.”
Janine Windolph, Director of Indigenous Arts
Graphic
Score-Making Workshop with Lou Sheppard
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE LOBBY
1:30 PM | FREE
Jazz & Sonic Arts Concert
JENNY BELZBERG THEATRE
7:30 PM | $
World Premiere of Commissioned Score by Raven Chacon performed by Musicians in Residence PERFORMANCE DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED | FREE
Participatory Event: Evensong (Breathing as One) with Pamela Hart and Lou Sheppard
SHAW AMPHITHEATRE 9 PM | FREE
Gather Listen Hear is a multi-day, interdisciplinary event centred on the relationship between sound and land. Coinciding with this summer’s Classical Indigenous Music Residency and the Jazz and Sonic Arts Residency, the event will include faculty and participant concerts taking place in both programs as well as a joint performance by the two participant cohorts. Sound and score-based works that are in dialogue with this location will be presented by Walter Phillips Gallery alongside participatory events.
Artistic Directors Megumi Masaki (Music) and Janine Windolph (Indigenous Arts), and Jacqueline Bell (Curator, Walter Philips Gallery) have come together to develop this interdisciplinary program. Banff Centre is inviting you to witness and take part in the culmination of this exciting collaboration.
More information on the full schedule will be available in June 2024. Please use the QR code to access the full suite of programming as it evolves.
“Banff is synonymous with outstanding chamber music! Join us, as we welcome James Ehnes and the Ehnes Quartet along with over two dozen other musicians, including BISQC winners the Viano and Isidore Quartets, for a packed weekend of music and community at BISQFest.”
Barry Shiffman, Artistic Director, Banff International String Quartet Competition and Festival
LOOKING BACK
BISQC & BISQFest at Banff Centre
THE BANFF INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTET COMPETITION (BISQC) is the largest event of its kind in the world. Since its beginning in 1983 as a special event to mark the 50th anniversary of Banff Centre, this triennial event has grown dramatically and now includes an industry-leading career development program that brings extraordinary opportunities for professional and artistic growth to the laureates. Past winners include many of the major names on the stage today including such celebrated names as the Miro, St. Lawrence, and Dover Quartets.
The Banff International String Quartet Festival (BISQFest) grew out of the success of the competition, welcoming a passionate music-loving audience for a series of concerts and events by laureates from past competitions and other celebrated artists from Canada and abroad.
Barry Shiffman, Banff Centre alumnus and BISQC winner with the St. Lawrence Quartet in 1992, has directed the competition since 2006 and the festival since its creation in 2017.
BISQC is supported by the Azrieli Foundation.
James Ehnes.
Photo by Ben Ealovega.
For three glorious days Banff Centre celebrates chamber music in this fully immersive festival experience. Attend the entire weekend or curate your own experience by selecting from the eight concerts featuring over sixty musicians from around the world. Join us!
PACKAGES ON SALE STARTING MAY 8, 2024
AUGUST 30
Opening Concert with Cheng 2 Duo
Rolston Recital Hall | 2:30 PM
Banff Festival Orchestra with James Ehnes, Ehnes Quartet and Barry Shiffman
Jenny Belzberg Theatre | 7:30 PM
AUGUST 31
Fifty for the Future with David Harrington of Kronos Quartet, performed by Festival Artists
Rolston Recital Hall | 10:30 AM
Israeli Chamber Project: Assaff Weisman, Itamar Zorman, Guy Ben-Ziony, and Tibi Cziger
Rolston Recital Hall | 2:30 PM
Isidore String Quartet with Andy Milne, James Ehnes, and Edward Arron
Rolston Recital Hall | 7:30 PM
SEPTEMBER 1
Ehnes Quartet
Rolston Recital Hall | 10:30 AM
“Time’s Echo” author Jeremy Eichler and Banff Festival Strings
Rolston Recital Hall | 2:30 PM
Finale Concert: Viano Quartet with Adrian Fung
Rolston Recital Hall | 7:30 PM
Lead Supporters
Anonymous
Jenny Belzberg Future Fund
Sir Jack Lyons Charitable Trust
Modern hotel rooms. Top-rated restaurants. Exceptional views. Just steps away from theatres and gallery spaces.
banffcentre.ca/hotels banffcentre.ca/dining
Left: Photo by Kari Medig. Top Right: Photo by Tom Arban. Bottom Right: Photo by Rita Taylor.
How to Buy Tickets
Online
banffcentre.ca
Call
For those needing assistance or unable to purchase tickets online, an agent from the Box Office can assist you by phone during the times listed below.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
12 – 4 pm (Mountain Time)
1.403.762.6301 or 1.800.413.8368
For inquiries outside these hours, please leave your name and contact number with a message, and a member of the Box Office team will follow up with you by the following business day.
In Person
The Box Office will be open 30 minutes prior to all live performances for in-person ticket sales.
Jenny Belzberg Theatre Lobby
Tickets from $20.
Over 35 free summer events!
Some free events require tickets in advance.
Accessibility Requests
If you have mobility or other accessibility needs, please inform our Box Office team as soon as possible so that we can provide you with information regarding the best services and resources.
Events and details are subject to change. Please visit banffcentre.ca for up to date information.
Right: Photo
ON DEMAND
After you spend a day exploring the great outdoors, choose from a variety of programs featuring films from previous Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour screenings and last year’s Festival in Banff.
49th annual Festival Oct 26 – Nov 3, 2024
FEATURING:
• Film screenings
• Renowned guest speakers
• Book events
• Festival Marketplace
• FREE events including happy hours with DJs, talks, exhibitions, and so much more!
TICKETS O N SALE AUGUST 8
Clockwise, Left to Right: From the films Captains on El Cap, Balkan Express, and Chicas al Agua.
Photo by Kari Medig.
Arts Team
Chris Lorway, President and CEO
Josephine Ridge, Interim Executive Director of Arts
Mark Wold, Executive Director of Leadership
Derek Beaulieu, Director of Literary Arts
Jacqueline Bell, Walter Phillips Gallery Curator
Joanna Croston, Director of Mountain Culture
Amiel Gladstone, Director of Theatre Arts
Kameko Higa, Managing Director Program Management and Resources Management
Joel Ivany, Artistic Director of Opera
Megumi Masaki-Hechler, Director of Music
Ingrid Percy, Director of Visual Arts Residencies
Alejandro Ronceria, Director of Dance Training
Barry Shiffman, Director of BISQC and BISQFest
Haema Sivanesan, Director of Leighton Studios and Program Partnerships
Kerry Stauffer, Managing Director of Events and Production
Janine Windolph, Director of Indigenous Arts
Summer Arts Guide Team
Derek Fast, Executive Director, Marketing and Communications
Marie-Hélène Dagenais, Marketing Director
Christine Majer, Graphic Design Lead
Shannon Fidler, Senior Graphic Designer (BCSAF Illustration)
Jenni Filman, Graphic Designer (BCSAF Guide)
Danaë Cosijn, Events Editor
Erin Brandt Filliter, Copywriter (Consultant)
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.
This residency at the 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 ten 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
Banff Musician in Residence 2024
Scan with phone camera.
Scan with Spotify in-app search.
banffcentre.ca/support-us
Photo by Rita Taylor.
Summer Arts Festival
