The capacity of The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony to foster new creative work has been expanded, thanks to a generous donation by Glen and Ann Sather. In the spring of 2008, the Sathers donated their Banff home — the historic Painter Residence — to The Banff Centre. The building was moved from its location on Buffalo Street to the Leighton Artists’ Colony in May 2008.

“This extraordinary donation will help The Banff Centre realize our long term vision for the Leighton Artists’ Colony,” says Banff Centre president and CEO Mary Hofstetter. “Our campus master plan identified the need to expand the studios as part of the Banff Centre Revitalization project. The addition of the Painter Residence will provide opportunities for a senior artist to work in a more spacious studio setting or for a group of artists to work collaboratively on such projects as creation of a new play, a musical composition, or a performance work.”

“We are very grateful to the Sather family for making this unique gift to the Centre,” Hofstetter added, “and we are thrilled to work with them and the Town of Banff to preserve the Painter Residence.”

Built in 1913, the Painter Residence was designed by architect Walter S. Painter, who also designed the Banff Cave and Basin Bathing Pavilion and the 1914 additions to the Banff Springs Hotel.

The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony consists of eight distinct studios, each designed by a noted Canadian architect, located in a secluded forest setting on the Centre campus. The studios offer a quiet retreat environment for professional artists engaged in the creation of new work. With a main floor area of 1800 square feet, the Painter Residence will add a ninth, larger studio.

Plans call for an additional studio to be added to the Colony as part of Phase Two of the Revitalization Project.