Hh5 — Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Chris Lorway, recently appointed CEO of the Banff Centre, hits the ground running for his community-centric tenure
WORDS BY KAYLA MACINNIS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL
INTERVIEW: MICHAEL ZARATHUS-COOK x CHRIS LORWAY
Over coffee with friend and fellow artist Christian Nicolay this summer, we talked about community spaces, particularly the ones that sustain and attract a myriad of folks who want a space for experimentation and exploration. The underlying catalyst of our conversation was The Factory in New York City, a cultural hub created by Andy Warhol that did just that—sustaining artists in a time of crisis. A place that I believe many contemporary artists wish they could have experienced in one way or another.
Our conversation negotiated how spaces like Warhol’s Factory can operate and support artist communities despite a world set on breaking us. This coterie drew to it many people looking to interact, collaborate, and showcase their work while creating dynamics that gave agency, support, and the feeling of endless possibilities. There have been many community spaces like this in the past, but these days, few manage to exist with the unwavering sense of freedom an artist needs. And though this sort of dream space for an artist would be an antipode to spaces like the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Banff Centre really is a crucial stepping stone to the kind of spaces that necessitate an artist’s survival.
The Banff Centre is a meeting space with a mission to foster both national and global communal experiences within the arts sector. Founded in 1933, it is quickly approaching its centennial as one of the leading and largest organizations in arts, culture, and creativity across dozens of disciplines. It is located within a world-renowned nature reserve, the Banff National Park, hosting anything from workshops, residencies, practicum programs, retreats, festivals, and then some.
It is also a sacred place for Indigenous peoples, situated on the side of the mountain Iinii Istako, the Blackfoot name for Sleeping Buffalo Mountain, in Treaty 7 territory. The nature of the Rocky Mountains permeates the being of those lucky enough to visit. With a landscape that compensates and pulls us in to unplug and explore the forests, rock formations of sandstone and limestone shales, and the blue-green glacier-fed lakes, it is no wonder why creators flock to this mythical place to seek time, solace, peace, reflection, inspiration, and community.
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