Village Gamer

Two premier, national institutions, The Banff Centre and CIFAR (The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research), have entered into a partnership to strengthen Canada’s capacity in creativity and innovation. Together, both institutions represent many of the world’s best minds engaged in research in the natural and social sciences and the humanities. Both are dedicated to advancing knowledge and unleashing human creativity and recognize that, by working together, they can tap a broad diversity of viewpoints to inspire new ways of addressing questions of global importance and furthering their respective missions.

Each institution brings complementary strengths to this exciting and unique partnership. The Banff Centre is the world’s largest arts incubator, bringing thousands of artists, leaders and researchers to its campus in the heart of Banff National Park every year. Through its multidisciplinary programming, the Centre provides the support artists and leaders need to advance their careers and to conceive new creative works and new ideas.

Through CIFAR, Canada makes a unique and important contribution to advancing knowledge in the world.  CIFAR’s global research networks bring together many of Canada’s and the world’s best scientists and scholars to frame and address important and challenging questions, including questions focused on improving human health and the environment, transforming technology, building strong societies, deepening cultural insights and expanding our understanding of the universe.  CIFAR is a virtual institute with research meetings held across Canada and around the world.

The partnership identifies a variety of ways in which the two institutions will work together, from co-hosting international research forums to co-incubating new areas of research inquiry and approaches to public engagement.  The CIFAR Global Academy – an elite fellowship designed to build research and leadership capacity in gifted young scholars – will now have a permanent home at The Banff Centre.

“Creativity is an essential tool for both artists and scientists,” says Jeff Melanson, president of The Banff Centre.  “This partnership opens up the possibilities for artists to gain a deeper understanding of the world in which they explore for new meaning; and conversely, for scientists, the opportunity to find new viewpoints for problem solving.  I am excited about the possibilities that we may be able to develop when our best thinkers come together.”

“This partnership reflects CIFAR’s commitment to bring together the best minds from a diversity of backgrounds to create new knowledge,” says CIFAR President & CEO Alan Bernstein.  “I hope that The Banff Centre/CIFAR partnership will catalyze and energize the global intellectual communities to explore links between the natural and social sciences and the humanities.”