Art of the
Mountains
W
ith dramatic stone spires, blankets
of verdant forest, and jewel-toned
rivers, the natural scenery in Banff
is among the most beautiful and admired
landscapes in the world. But it’s not the only
part of Banff that’s unique in Canada — nestled
on Sleeping Buffalo Mountain, the Banff
Centre for Arts and Creativity is a one-of-a-kind
institution devoted to leadership, culture, and
arts across dozens of disciplines.
From humble beginnings with a single drama
course in 1933, the Banff Centre evolved in
to a fully-fledged arts school over the course
of the 20th century. In the 1990s, suffering
government cuts to its operating grant, the
Centre successfully reinvented itself with a
capital campaign and added several facilities
including a new, state-of-the-art music and
sound complex. The federal government
recognized it as a National Training Institute
in 1999. Today, the Banff Centre strives to be a
catalyst for creativity in all its forms, developing
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THE ESSENTIAL CALGARY 2016/17
and promoting creative work in arts, sciences,
business, and the environment.
Though education is certainly a part of
the Banff Centre’s mandate as a learning
organization, it would be a grave disservice to
think of it as only a school. It’s also a world-class
venue for visual and digital arts, performing
arts, and literary arts. Established in 1976, the
Walter Phillips Gallery recently celebrated its
40th anniversary as a visual arts site.
“What started as a small and dynamic gallery
has become a leading centre for contemporary
arts in Canada, championing curatorial
innovation and the work of emerging artists
from across the country and around the world,”
says Carolyn Warren, the Centre’s Vice-President
of Arts.
The performing and literary arts, including
theatre, music, dance, opera, playwriting, and
interdisciplinary works, are another key pillar
of the Banff Centre. More than 400 events
per year are hosted at the Centre, with artists
PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY BANFF CENTRE FOR ARTS AND CREATIVITY
Banff Centre for Arts and
Creativity fosters and
celebrates creative works
across all disciplines
by rachael frey