JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 8, 2015, THE BANFF CENTRE
The annual WGA Banff Retreat will be open for registration June 12, 2014. This self-guided retreat is a great opportunity to connect with fellow writers and enjoy uninterrupted writing time at The Banff Centre, the world’s largest arts and creativity incubator. Writers at any stage of their career or writing project are welcome to join in.
Our 2015 Writer-in-Residence is Tololwa Mollel, internationally recognized children’s author, dramatist, storyteller and teacher. Tololwa will be on site at The Banff Centre to provide individual consultations. Visit his website at www.tololwamollel.com.
Tololwa Mollel
Tololwa M Mollel is author of over seventeen internationally published children’s books. Among them are WGA award winners My Rows and Piles of Coins and Big Boy, Subira Subira, and the Governor General award-winning The Orphan Boy, and his latest, From Lands of the Night. Some of Mollel’s books and adult stories have been translated into Korean, Serbian, Norwegian, Bengali, several South African tongues, and other languages. Increasingly of interest to him is writing for performance. He does two types of stories for performance, those he performs solo as a storyteller or theatrical story performer; and ones he works into theatrical productions in collaboration with a theatre director, actors and musicians and other artists. Through writing, storytelling and drama, Mollel hopes to empower the young and the old with the gift of story – to create, write, tell, share and enjoy stories; to mentor them as he too was mentored.
The deadline for registrations will be November 14, 2014. Please note the earlier registration opening and closing dates this year, so you can start planning!
Prices (All prices are inclusive of GST):
- Full Retreat (January 30 – February 8): $1,150 WGA members, $1,220 non-members (non-member rate includes 1-year WGA membership)
- Half Retreat (January 30 – February 3 or February 4-8): $690 WGA members, $760 non-members (non-member rate includes 1-year WGA membership)
- Additional night: Participants registering for either of the half retreats have the option of staying for an additional night on Tuesday, February 3 for an additional payment of $93, subject to availability.
Full and Half retreat fees include accommodation in a private room (with a desk), a meal plan, use of the Banff Centre amenities including complimentary access to the Sally Borden recreation centre, welcome and farewell receptions, evening readings and access to the Writer-in-Residence.
Wish to extend your stay further? Self-directed Writing Residencies run year-round at The Banff Centre and provide the time and space for focused work. Extend your stay before or after the WGA retreat by applying for a Self-directed Residency via www.banffcentre.ca/writing. Please note that access to the Writer-in-Residence and other WGA specific retreat activities e.g. receptions, readings etc is not included in the Literary Arts Self-directed Writing Residency offered by the Banff Centre.
How to Register:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
Registration is first-come, first-served, so register early to avoid disappointment. To register with VISA or MasterCard, phone 780.422.8174 or 1.800.665.5354. Registration forms may be sent by mail, email, or fax. Please do not fax or email credit card numbers.
What to submit:
- Completed and signed registration form
- A short bio of approximately 150 words. Just give us a sense of who you are and what your writing background is. This will be shared with participants on arrival.
- Deposit (retreat spots will not be held without a deposit payment).
- If you wish for the Writer-in-Residence to review a manuscript, it must be submitted in advance of the retreat. The deadline is December 15, 2014.
Mail:
The Writers’ Guild of Alberta
Percy Page Centre
11759 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 780.422.2663 (attn: WGA)
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the WGA at 780.422.8174 or 1.800.665.5354 (toll free in Alberta) or by email at [email protected]. For more information about the Banff Centre, please visit www.banffcentre.ca/writing.
Deadline for registrations is Friday, November 14, 2014
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations made prior to and on November 14, 2014 will merit a full refund less a $50 administration fee. Refund requests made after November 14, 2014 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Refunds are not guaranteed. Requests must be made in writing to The Writers’ Guild of Alberta.