February 10, 2005

Banff Centre grants program to fund projects on mountain ecology, adventure, and culture

Filmmakers, photographers, artists, and writers from around the world are invited to apply for a share of $15,000 (CDN) in funding from The Banff Centre’s 2005 Banff Mountain Grants program. The grants, sponsored by Mountain HardWear, support projects that bring stories of mountain ecology, adventure, inspiration, and culture to a broad public audience.

Individuals or organizations may apply for grants of up to $5000 to fund projects that creatively interpret the environment, natural history, human heritage, arts, philosophy, lifestyle, and adventure, in and of the mountains. Projects must include a communications component (such as film, literature or photography) that brings the project to a public audience.

“Every year, we see applications from around the world for projects that tell inspiring and heartfelt mountain stories,” says Leslie Taylor, associate director of Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre. “This program helps to get those stories out there for a broad audience to enjoy.”

Projects selected for last year’s grants included the documentary Monumental: David Brower’s Fight for Wild America, about one of the greatest environmentalists of the 20th century, and North America’s Wild Heart: From Yellowstone to Yukon by Florian Schulz of Wilhelmsdorf, Germany, a photographic book to support and inspire advocacy for the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor.

Grant guidelines and application forms for the 2005 Banff Mountain Grants program are available on The Banff Centre website. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2005. For more information, e-mail mountainculture@banffcentre.ca, or phone 1-800-298-1229 (toll-free North America), or 1-403-762-6675.

— 30 —

MEDIA CONTACT: