Toga da wôhnagabi: Music Creation Residency 2026

About the Open Call

“Toga da wôhnagabi” (Stories for the future) is a four-week hybrid Indigenous music residency that brings worldviews together from all four corners of Mother Earth. Watched over by Buffalo Spirit, the residency provides musicians and songwriters a transformative space to actively listen and learn from each other in story and song. Through workshops, studio recording and live performance, the residency gives participants space to create and share their stories using language and land teachings in their music creations and performance. Artists will listen to the land speak and use those sounds along with their own Indigenous language sounds to both express and celebrate life and their unique worldviews in a life-affirming and creative gathering space. Solo artists or duos are welcome to apply. “Toga da wôhnagabi ” (Stories for the future) Residency explores the many facets of musical creation, songwriting, and performance through land-based and embodied methodologies. Participants will: Expand their performance skills, active and deep listening, and understanding of music production. Engage in faculty-led workshops, group gatherings, and one-on-one sessions with senior faculty. Create new works and arrangements while refining their musical abilities. Have 24hr access to studios and/or music huts to focus on songwriting and performance preparation. Receive a ½-day recording session to capture their work. Be part of a supportive community of up to 14 peers. Participate in a final music showcase, with up to 10 minutes of stage time or three creative works.

What is Offered

This program offers a standard scholarship covering 100% of tuition fees, meals, and accommodation costs, making the program free for accepted participants. Benefits include a flexible meal plan, a single bedroom on campus, private specialized studio space, opportunities to showcase work-in-progress, group seminars and workshops with faculty, access to the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, and full access to campus facilities including the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre and Box Office Discounts.

Requirements

Open to Indigenous people from all regions - locally, nationally, and internationally. Ideal for Indigenous musicians, singer-songwriters, composers, and creators across all music genres. Applicants should have one or more completed projects and be working on a new project. Designed for solo artists and duos. Applicants must be 18+ at the time of the program start date. Domestic and international applications are welcome. 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. We welcome applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply.

How to Apply

Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application. Step 1: Complete the Online Form Step 2: Pay your application fee Please login with the username and password emailed to you on completion of step 1. Step 3: Upload Your Materials Resume A one-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience. Group member resumes should be summited in one document. 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 Provide a 500-word or 3-minute video description of your proposed project, including the theme, an outline of materials and facilities that may be required, and a breakdown of timelines. These summaries will be used as a narrative for administrative and public use. Resource request form Outline all studio, equipment, software, facility, or staff support requested in our upload tool. Final resource allocation is at the discretion of the department. Portfolio Please submit a minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 examples of your work. File sizes and specifications are available in our upload tool. Financial Assistance Be sure to complete the Financial Aid question in SlideRoom to be eligible for the financial assistance. Group Applications The lead applicant should complete: Step 1: One application form Step 2: Pay the $35 processing fee on behalf of the group Step 3: One SlideRoom application Note: An additional $35 registration fee will be added for each member upon acceptance to the program. 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.