Media and Visual Arts short-term training courses and workshops provided concentrated career-related learning opportunities for artists, technicians and other cultural workers. Most courses were designed for self-employed people with limited time, who needed to upgrade their practical skills in a particular hardware or software application for them to earn more of their living directly from their art practice.

Courses were designed as stand-alone learning opportunities. Participants were encouraged, however, to attend one or more courses to upgrade their skills in preparation for application to longer Banff Centre work study/practicum programs.

Participants were also able to combine courses with production opportunities, through a self-directed residency in Media and Visual Arts. After completing a course, artists could work in the Centre’s studios and facilities and put their new skills to immediate use in their work.

The Introduction to Adobe Photoshop: Part 1 course (with instructor Douglas Smith) provided an introduction to digital photographic techniques using an industry-standard image processing program in an intensive, hands-on computing situation emphasizing the participants’ own imagery. Participants were encouraged to bring their own original or stock images on Photo-CD. All participants had the chance to produce colour output on paper and 35mm transparency for discussion in class. This course was designed for the new Photoshop user. Prerequisite: Beginner Macintosh skill or completion of Introduction to Macintosh Computing.