2026 RESIDENCY
Saltonstall
DEADLINE: January 4, 2026 by 11:59pm ET
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: Saltonstall announces their Call for Entries for the 2026 Residency season! Residencies will begin May 29 and run through October 29.
They welcome submissions from artists and writers living in New York State and Indian Nations therein working in the following disciplines:
Poetry
Creative Nonfiction
Photography & Filmmaking
Painting | Sculpture | Visual Arts
Saltonstall is located eight miles east of Ithaca, New York on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ' Nation (generally known as the Cayuga Nation), one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
A Saltonstall residency is a small community. We strive to provide a quiet, inviting, respectful, and nurturing community for creative individuals looking for uninterrupted time to focus on their craft.
Residencies are cohort-based. There are just five individuals in residence at a time: one poet, one prose writer, one photographer or filmmaker, and two visual artists. Each group of five arrives and departs at the same time.
We believe in and value a diverse community of creative individuals. To that end, we hope that all artists and writers feel welcome to apply for a residency, regardless of one’s level of education, experience, race, ethnicity, age, sex, religious belief, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or national origin.
There is no cost to attend Saltonstall and no application fee associated with this application. Additionally, to help offset travel to Ithaca and other personal expenses, we offer stipends of $100/week to everyone who attends. Additional stipend support (up to $1,000) will be offered based on financial need and the median household income of an applicant's County. Artist- and writer-parents and full-time caregivers will each receive a $500 stipend.
All applicants must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and must be residents of New York State or Indian Nations therein ** (all counties). Residencies are for individual artists and writers. We are unable to accommodate groups or pairs of people working together. Specific residency dates are inclusive. It is expected that those selected for a residency live at Saltonstall for the duration of the residency period and -- during the 2 - 4-week residencies -- participate in our Open House events.
saltonstall.submittable.com/submit
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2025 BUTTON POETRY CHAPBOOK CONTEST
Button Poetry
DEADLINE: January 6, 2025 at 11:59 pm PT
SUBMISSION FEE: $20 (all entrants will receive a 20% discount off any purchase at the Button Shop)
INFO: The 2025 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest is now open!
PRIZE: The winner will receive publication, 50 free author copies, and a $500 honorarium.
ELIGIBILITY: This competition is open to writers of ALL AGES from anywhere in the world. If chosen for publication and under the age of majority, you will need a signature from a legal guardian.
MANUSCRIPT ELIGIBILITY: Open to all previously unpublished, chapbook-length manuscripts of poetry (loosely defined) written in English. Manuscripts that contain previously published poems are eligible, so long as the manuscript is unpublished as a collection.
WHAT WE LIKE: We value energy and voice and force, work that crosses borders or effaces them completely, work that enters into larger social conversations, work that lives in the world, work with calloused hands and a half-empty stomach.
For questions, email contest@buttonpoetry.com
buttonpoetry.submittable.com/submit
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2026 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ* Voices
Lambda Literary
DEADLINE: $30
APPLICATION FEE: January 8, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
INFO: The Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices is the nation’s premier LGBTQ writing residency. It is the only multi-genre writing residency devoted exclusively to emerging LGBTQ+ writers. The Retreat is an unparalleled opportunity to develop one’s craft and find community.
The 2026 Writers Retreat will take place from August 1-8, 2026. As we did in 2025, we are holding our Writers Retreat online. This format allows for us to continue building our organizational resources while offering the same high-quality programming that remains accessible to folks who may not otherwise be able to attend in-person programs. Not only that, but the Virtual Retreat was a hit in 2025! Fellows and Faculty reported the Lambda Literary Virtual Retreat model was “one of the more accessible and inclusive retreats of its kind available to writers, and is driven forward by leadership who are dedicated to supporting queer artists and their development” (Sam Heyman, 2022/2025 Fellow).
TUITION, SCHOLARSHIPS, + FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
Tuition for the 2026 Virtual Retreat is set at $1,100.
Accepted fellows will no longer have to fundraise for their own tuition–Lambda Literary will provide financial support to those who need it. We are working hard to make our spaces as accessible as possible, and those who cannot pay their own way should not have to expend more time and energy just to attend. With this new plan, Lambda Literary will be offering financial support to make sure every accepted writer can attend, regardless of financial status.
Find all available scholarships, financial support information, and other opportunities in the application form.
RETREAT DATES + LOCATION
The 2026 Writers Retreat will be held virtually from August 1-August 8, 2026.
APPLICATION DETAILS:
You may apply to more than one workshop, however, each application must be submitted separately and requires an additional fee. The fee for each application is $30.00 and is processed through Submittable's online portal. If you wish to pay by cash or check please contact retreat@lambdaliterary.org.
A limited number of application fee waivers are available for QTBIPOC** members of our community who have never attended the Writers Retreat before.
To inquire about a fee waiver, email retreat@lambdaliterary.org confirming your eligibility as:
A member of the QTBIPOC community
Someone who has never attended the Retreat before.
You do not need to provide any other identifying information. Waivers are given out on a first-come-first serve basis. Secure yours sooner rather than later!
To Apply, Please Prepare
1. An artistic/biographical statement (max 500 words).
2. a writing sample matching the genre of the workshop you’re applying for:
A writing sample in .DOC, .DOCX, or .PDF format.
For prose please double space and use a 12 point font.
For Screenwriting please use standardized scriptwriting format.
The sample you apply with does not have to be the same sample you plan to workshop at the Retreat.
Page limits per workshop:
For Fiction, Nonfiction, Romantic Fiction, Speculative Fiction, and Young Adult Fiction: 15 pages maximum. This maximum applies to cross-genre samples as well as samples in verse.
For Playwriting and Screenwriting: 15 pages maximum from a full-length work, short play/script, or piece of theatre/film. This page limit includes dramatis personae/cast list/setting/description.
For Poetry: 8 pages maximum
3. Optional, not required for acceptance:
Any publications of your work during the past two years, including anthologies, literary journals, magazines, websites, and books.
Any other writing conferences, retreats, and workshops have you attended.
Some scholarships, financial support, and additional opportunities require a scholarship statement (max 500 words).
APPLICATION REVIEW + STATUS NOTIFICATION:
Applications are reviewed in three stages by a panel of retreat alumni and Lambda staff. Reviewers are given comprehensive guidelines and a rubric to evaluate each application for craft, inventiveness, voice, and form. Within that, we strive to serve a variety of writers with varying backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, genders, religions, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and localities.
In the first round of review, the top 50 fellowship candidates in each genre are identified. In the second round, the top 30 fellowship candidates in each genre are identified. In the third round of review, the genre-specific faculty member makes final decisions and chooses 12 fellows and 5 waitlist applicants out of the top 30 pool. Writers Retreat faculty make the final determinations regarding accepted and waitlisted applicants. All applicants will be notified of their application status in April 2026.
lambdaliterary.org/emerging-writers-retreat/
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WILD SEEDS RETREAT FOR WRITERS OF COLOR (SCREENWRITING, FICTION, POETRY)
DEADLINE: January 9, 2026 by 11:59pm ET
APPLICATION FEE: $25
INFO: The Wild Seeds Retreat provides writers of color with an opportunity to meet other writers; to workshop their writing among peers; and to engage with published writers about concerns and issues related to writing and publishing. Through its writing workshops leaders, the Retreat provides the public with an opportunity to become knowledgeable about the range and diversity of the work produced by writers of color.
Fellows will engage in daily writing, reading and sharing sessions with workshop leaders and cohort leaders. Fellows will also have an opportunity for one on one sessions with their workshop leader. A detailed itinerary will be provided to accepted fellows.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
The applicant’s submission packet must include a cover letter of introduction that includes:
The reason you want to participate in the Wild Seeds Retreat for Writers of Color.
A statement about how you would benefit from this experience.
Background information about you as a writer.
Brief description of the project you are presently working on (if applicable).
A writing sample (up to five pages). This will be a separate upload in the application below.
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your writing. This will also be a separate upload in the application below.
Scholarships are very limited. If you are requesting one, please include a rationale in your cover letter.
There is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $25.00. How will you submit your application fee? You can either submit:
Postal mail with the signed and dated application. See the address below.
Online (if online, CLICK HERE to submit your payment.)
TUITION: This is a tuition-based program. If accepted, a tuition fee of $300.00 will be due.
centerforblackliterature.org/wild-seeds-retreat/
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Sunlit Residency: Summer '26
Sunlit Residency (Ithaca, NY)
DEADLINE: January 10, 2026
PROCESSING FEE: $25
INFO: A residency for social justice, human rights and the arts in Ithaca, NY.
This residency honors the legacy of anthropologist Dr. Sue-Je Lee Gage, pioneering scholar of Amerasians in South Korea, change maker, beloved teacher and mentor whose talents and interests spanned the fine arts, the humanities, and the social sciences. Scholars, artists, writers, and activists are invited to apply for short-term residencies in her former home in Ithaca, New York, to pursue projects related to the passions and interests that motivated Dr. Gage's work for social justice, human rights and the arts on a broad scale.
Residents are responsible for their own transportation to and from Ithaca, New York.
All household amenities, including wi-fi, will be provided.
All questions and queries regarding the residency may be addressed to Sunlitresidency@gmail.com.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Please complete the Application Form. Also email the following as Microsoft Word or pdf attachments to Sunlitresidency@gmail.com:
Project Description: Submit a statement (max. 1500 words) describing your proposed work, how it aligns with the goals of the Sunlit Residency, current stage of the project, goals for completion while at the Residency, and a schedule for how you plan to utilize your time while at the Residency.
Work Samples: Scholars and creative writers are requested to submit two samples of written work. Artists are asked to submit two fine art samples, or representations thereof. Activists are requested to submit a brief (about 250-300 word) description of past activities relevant to the proposed project, or other evidence of such activities.
Updated Curriculum Vitae
A Confidential Letter of Reference: The letter should be emailed directly to Sunlitresidency@gmail.com by a professional colleague and/or supervisor who is familiar with your project and your goals.
Processing fee of $25: Payment should be made via our donation page on the website.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage
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call for applications: 'The Yearning Hour' Poetry Workshop for Youth Writers
Foglifter (Bay Area, CA)
DEADLINE: January 12, 2026
INFO: Thank you for your interest in The Yearning Hour, a poetry workshop for Bay-Area based youth + emerging writers (ages 18-26) led by poet, doula, and Issue 7.1 Poetry Contributor Briana Grogan!
This workshop will explore how Queer and Trans histories exist within us and beside us and consider how the threat of erasure shapes our relationship to ancestry, place, collective memory, and, of course, longing.
Please note, this workshop is available for Bay Area residents only and will take place primarily in-person in San Francisco. Workshops will take place Thursday evenings, once a week, starting January 29th, 2026.
Applicants will be informed by January 19th. While this workshop will be poetry-focused writers from all genres are welcome to apply.
TO APPLY:
Title your Work Sample (using the following titling convention: First_Last_Foglifter (i.e., Audre_Lorde_Foglifter)
Include your a 50-word or less bio (with pronouns)
Upload your work sample (as one DOC, DOCX, or PDF file)
Include in Your Work Sample:
3 poems (max 3 pages), or;
up to 5000 words of fiction or nonfiction, or;
up to 3 pages of cross-genre or hybrid work, text-image hybrids, or drama
Only one work sample submission per person.
foglifter.submittable.com/submit/343704/the-yearning-hour-poetry-workshop-led-by-briana-grogan
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2026 Call for Submissions – Poetry
Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network / Texas Tech University Press (DVAN/TTUP)
DEADLINE: January 15, 2026
INFO: DVAN and Texas Tech University Press are pleased to announce that their book series will be open for submissions from early career and emerging writers. For this reading cycle, we will be reviewing poetry in English, from the Vietnamese American and broader Southeast Asian community.
JUDGE: The winning manuscript will be selected by award-winning poet Mai Der Vang.
REQUIREMENTS:
Full book length poetry manuscript
Manuscript must not yet be published
Please include an author bio with your submission
Authors may have published no more than one book-length work to be eligible
We are looking for any and all kinds of stories and modes of expression. Works can speak to racial identity or to topics like war and immigration, but they also can be about anything. There is no one story from the Diaspora and Asian-American community. We are looking for originality of voice, acuity of subject, emotional resonance, as well as stories and perspectives that have not often been centered in contemporary literature. As a nonprofit University Press, TTUP is unburdened by the commercial concerns of major publishers.
Please submit your manuscript to travis.snyder@ttu.edu.
The Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network/Texas Tech University Press (DVAN/TTUP) series is a historical publishing collaboration that centers the complex, diverse, and creative voices of contemporary Vietnamese and Southeast Asian American literature. We seek to foster dialogues and disentangle Vietnam from war, while also acknowledging its ongoing legacy in shaping U.S. policy and culture. With this series, we hope to connect generations across our readership in community healing, inclusive educational growth, and encouraging a love of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian American literature for all.
dvan.org/2025/11/2026-call-for-submissions/
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Monson Arts RESIDENCY
Monson Arts
DEADLINE: January 15, 2026
APPLICATION FEE: $25
INFO: Monson Arts’ residency program supports emerging and established artists and writers by providing them time and space to devote to their creative practices. During each of our 2-week and 4-week programs throughout the year, a cohort of 5 artists and 5 writers are invited to immerse themselves in small town life at the edge of Maine’s North Woods and focus intensely on their work within a creative and inspiring environment. They receive a private studio, private bedroom in shared housing, all meals, and $500 stipend ($250 for 2-week programs). The Abbott Watts Residency for Photography offers access to the photography studio and darkroom of Todd Watts in nearby Blanchard, adjacent to the former home of Berenice Abbott. Click here to read more about this unique opportunity specifically for photographers.
Applications for a residency at Monson Arts are open to anyone at any stage of their career, working in visual arts, writing, and related fields (i.e. audio, video, photography, woodworking, movement, screen and playwrights). Open calls for residency applications currently take place 3 times throughout the year with deadlines on January 15, May 15, and September 15. Each application period corresponds to specific residency offerings 3-6 months out.
Residents’ studios are located in newly renovated Main Street buildings that have been designed specifically for visual artists and writers. All of our studio spaces are outfitted to be as flexible as possible so that we can accommodate a variety of creative practices. Our visual arts studios are spacious and light-filled with large work tables and sinks. Shelving and portable storage carts are available as needed. Access is available to woodshop and metal shop facilities in nearby buildings for any fabrication needs. Our writing studios are comfortably furnished with work tables, office chairs, bookshelves, and reading chairs. For those working in time and sound based media: apply to the Writing category if quiet contemplation would be best for your project or the Visual Arts category if you need room and the opportunity to make and play sounds out loud.
Residents live in newly renovated historic homes throughout town, within walking distance to studios and everything that downtown Monson has to offer. These are mostly 3 bedroom structures that are fully furnished and comfortable all four seasons of the year. Houses all have shared kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas with laundry machines, telephone, and other amenities as well. Wifi is available in all of our buildings through high speed fiberoptic service.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
Up to 5 images / 5 minutes of media OR 5 pages of writing examples
A letter of intent for your time at the residency
C.V. or Resume (limited to 6000 characters)
Two reference names
2026 SPRING RESIDENCY SCHEDULE:
3/30 – 4/23 – Residency – (With Abbott Watts Resident)
4/27 – 5/21 – Residency
*5/26 – 6/5 – Residency – (With Abbott Watts Resident) 2 week residency (Tuesday start for memorial day)
monsonarts.slideroom.com/#/login/program/87435
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE REBEL’S ZEITGEIST
Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice
Deadline: January 15, 2026
INFO: Black Writers for Peace and Social Justice is excited to announce a call for submissions for our quarterly digital publication, The Rebel’s Zeitgeist.
We invite Black writers from around the world to submit their original poetry, short fiction, essays, book reviews, short plays, and music reviews for consideration for our Spring 2026 issue. Our journal is dedicated to amplifying voices that explore themes of social justice, radical resistance, and the revolutionary liminal spaces that shape identity.The Rebel’s Zeitgeist seeks to publish work that challenges the status quo, offers new perspectives on systemic injustices, and celebrates the rich diversity of the Black experience. The Spring 2026 issue's theme is, "Beyond the Bearing of Witness." Contributors will be those who have work that speaks to the nature of resistance and the fight for liberation. We will be accepting poems, essays, and short stories.
We welcome writers Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton and Khari Dawson as guest editors of this issue. Synnika Alek-Chizoba Lofton is an award-winning poet, educator, and publisher. Lofton is the author of more than 35 collections of poetry and more than 177 spoken word albums. His poems have appeared in Clock House Journal, Revenge, UpStreet, Experience Reality Magazine, Quay, Dissident Voice, The Skinny Poetry Journal, Mid-Atlantic Review, and Blue-Collar Review. In 2024, his poem “To Honor Her Bold Walk” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Khari Dawson is a multi-genre writer and musician based in Maryland. Published in multiple publications, including the 2025 Jan/Feb issue of POETRY magazine, she has enjoyed support for her work through grants and fellowship opportunities with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Art Under a Minute program, the Martha’s Vineyard Creative Writing Institute, and the Smithsonian exhibit project, “Gen Z Speaks: A Right to the City.” She is a 2024 Watering Hole Poetry fellow.
We are particularly interested in pieces that:
Poetry: Captures the essence of resistance and resilience through evocative and powerful verse.
Short Fiction: Tells compelling stories that highlight struggles and triumphs in the fight for justice and equality.
Essays: Provides insightful analysis and commentary on contemporary social issues and historical events impacting Black communities.
Book Reviews: Critically examines works by Black authors, focusing on themes of social justice and transformative change.
Short Plays: Presents dramatic works that engage with revolutionary ideas and the complexities of identity.
Music Reviews: Analyzes and discusses music and artists that push through conventions with sonic innovation and creativity.
We welcome submissions from both emerging and established writers who are passionate about using their craft to promote peace and social justice. Each piece should reflect a commitment to these ideals and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around equity and liberation.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Format: Submissions must be in digital format (Word or PDF).
Length:
Poetry: Up to 3 poems, not exceeding 100 lines in total.
Short Fiction: Up to 5,000 words.
Essays: Up to 3,000 words.
Book Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.
Short Plays: Up to 20 pages.
Music Reviews: Up to 1,500 words.
HOW TO SUBMIT: Send your submission to submissions [at] blackwritersforpeace.org with the subject line “Submission: [Category] – [Your Name]”.
Guest editors will be announced in 2026.
blackwritersforpeace.org/literary-journal
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KUNDIMAN RETREAT
Kundiman
DEADLINE: January 15, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
INFO: In order to mentor and build community among Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) writers, Kundiman sponsors an annual creative writing Retreat. During each Retreat, six nationally renowned poets and fiction writers conduct craft classes and mentorship meetings. Readings, writing circles, and informal social gatherings are also scheduled. Through this Retreat, Kundiman hopes to provide a safe and instructive environment that identifies and addresses the unique challenges faced by emerging AAPI writers.
CRAFT CLASSES & MENTORSHIP MEETINGS: The Kundiman Retreat is generative in nature, so craft classes are focused on new work that is written at the Retreat. An acclaimed writer facilitates each craft class, which is small (not exceeding six students) and includes a craft talk, readings, and writing exercises. Retreat attendees, known as Kundiman Fellows, take three craft classes during the Retreat — one with each Faculty member in their genre.
Each Fellow also attends a 25-minute mentorship meeting where they can speak with a Faculty member about craft, career questions, and the writing life. Our hope is that these craft classes and mentorship meetings inspire Kundiman Fellows to forge deeper relationships to their artistic processes and encounter their work with renewed focus and energy.
LOCATION & DATES:
The 2026 Kundiman Retreat will be held at Pratt Institute’s Brooklyn Campus in Brooklyn, New York from Monday, June 15th to Saturday, June 20th.
If you have any questions about accessibility or if you need any accommodations, please email info@kundiman.org.
ELIGIBILITY:
Anyone who self-identifies as AAPI and is at least 18 years old can apply to the Retreat.
LOGISTICS:
It is expected that Fellows and Faculty are in residence for the duration of the Retreat. We will ask that you not invite in outside visitors, or make plans to meet with visitors during the Retreat. If you know that you will not be able to be in residence for the entirety of the Retreat, it is recommended that you select another year to attend.
Everyone in attendance will commit to co-creating an inclusive, respectful, and courageous space that honors both self care and community care. Community care includes taking reasonable steps to protect one another from contagious illnesses such as COVID. Further guidance on COVID protocol will be provided to admitted Fellows at a later date.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Between December 15th and January 15th, apply to the Kundiman Retreat by clicking on one of the below buttons. Submit a cover letter and brief writing sample (5–7 pages of poetry or 5 pages (1250 words max) of prose).
Notification on application status is expected to be given by mid March.
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UCROSS FELLOWSHIP FOR NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS
UCROSS Foundation
DEADLINE: January 15, 2026
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: Our dedicated fellowship supports the work of contemporary Native American visual artists, writers, and performers. Selected fellows are offered a four-week residency, which includes uninterrupted time, private studio space living accommodations, meals prepared by our professional chef, a stipend, and the experience of the majestic High Plains. The Ucross Fellowship for Native American Artists also includes an award of $2,000 and the opportunity to present work publicly, such as a featured exhibition in the Ucross Art Gallery, a reading, or a performance.
The fellowship began in 2018 by supporting Native American visual artists, thanks in large part to a grant from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Following the success of the first two years, in 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) granted Ucross funds to continue the program for visual artists and expand its reach to include Native American writers. In 2024, the NEA granted Ucross additional funds to include Native American performers.
ELIGIBILITY: Residencies are open to Native American writers who meet the criteria below. They must:
Be a practicing contemporary writer who is currently producing works in one or more of the following genres, including but not limited to FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY, DRAMA, SCREENWRITING, PLAYWRITING, and HYBRID FORMS;
Be an enrolled member of a state-recognized or federally-recognized Tribe, Pueblo, Nation, Native Community, Political Entity, or Alaskan Native Village.
FICTION WORK SAMPLE: Your writing sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate sample: 20 pages of fiction, which could be a novel excerpt, a story, several stories, or a combination.
NONFICTION WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate sample: 20 pages of nonfiction.
POETRY WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Poetry submissions may be single-spaced and should include your full name. * Appropriate samples: 10 pages of poetry.
PLAYWRITING WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate samples: One complete play (documentation of production may be included, if relevant), noting the 20 pages that you would like the reviewers to read.
SCREENWRITING WORK SAMPLE: Your sample should represent the genre in which you plan to work while in residence. Writing samples should be double-spaced and include your full name. * Appropriate samples: One complete screenplay (documentation of production may be included, if relevant), noting the 20 pages that you would like the reviewers to read
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Ucross Foundation acknowledges with respect that it is situated on the aboriginal land of several Indigenous communities, including the Cheyenne, Crow, and Lakota nations. Indigenous people continue to live in this area and practice their teachings and lifeways. Today, this region remains an important place for many Indigenous peoples. As a Wyoming institution, we recognize and respect this historical context and are working to build reciprocal relationships with the Native nations on whose lands we are situated. In partial fulfillment of that commitment, Ucross established Fellowships for Native American Visual Artists in 2017, Writers in 2020, and Performers in 2024.
ucrossfoundation.submittable.com/submit
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African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant
African Poetry Book Fund
DEADLINE: January 23, 2026
INFO: The African Poetry Digital Portal Project funded by a grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation invites proposals from scholars and researchers for the African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant. These grants support Digital Humanities research in African Poetry. Applicants are encouraged to make use of the resources of the Portal, and in so doing expand the impact of the Portal in the broader community of African Digital Humanities Scholarship. Given the multifaceted nature of African poetry in terms of regional variance, performative elements, archival and textual complexity and range, and the work of African poetry within the fabric of contemporary and historical societies, proposals should take advantage of the range of possibilities afforded to a scholar in the field of Digital Humanities. To be considered, projects must use digital research methods or encompass scholarship that applies computing technologies in humanistic inquiry. Most importantly, African Poetry must be at the center of the research.
THE APDP PROJECT:
The African Poetry Digital Portal documents the work of African poets and provides equitable digital access to the related creative and intellectual artifacts, materials and research on the subject of African Poetry, housed in academic and cultural institutions in Africa and its Diaspora, to, among other things, create accessible ways to engender an informed, culturally diverse, civically engaged and responsible society.
AWARD AMOUNT: $10,000
SCHEDULE:
Grant period: April 2026 - April 2027
Application opens: December 1, 2025
Application deadline: January 23, 2026
Expected notification date: March 2, 2026
Project Start date: April 2026
Project End Date: April 2027
THE REVIEW PROCESS:
Applications will be reviewed by scholars in African Poetry and researchers in Digital Humanities. Projects will be judged on their contribution to digital humanities scholarship in African Poetry.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Project proposal: a description of the proposed research plan consisting of the following (should not exceed 3 pages):
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Project Narrative: The narrative should describe the guiding premises of the project clearly, provide a clear overview of the project’s structure (components, personnel, tasks), and describe in concrete terms what the project hopes to accomplish by the end of the 12-month period. Include:
The nature of the project
The area of African Poetry being explored
The research question and approach
Technological requirements: specific equipment, software, server time, or hosting (NOTE: Personal computer purchases are not permitted)
A detailed timeline including key dates and milestones
A detailed budget (1 page maximum) including clear explanations for each item and a justification of their importance to the project.
C.V. from the primary researcher. Include relevant examples of previous projects.
OUTCOMES:
All grant recipients will:
Work to advance or complete a Digital Humanities Project on African Poetry, and make the project or the project details available to be featured on the Portal.
Complete a critical commentary on the technological and thematic challenge of the project and its effectiveness.
Complete a plan for future related work of expansion of the current project
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Please submit all application documents through Submittable.
For any questions, contact Rezina Habtemariam, APDP’s Project Manager, at rezina_habtemariam@brown.edu
africanpoetics.brown.edu/s/portal/page/african-poetry-digital-humanities-grant-2026
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NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)
DEADLINE: January 27, 2026 at 5:00pm ET
INFO: The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is an $8,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located therein.
This grant is awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period (five categories a year) and the application is free to complete. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is not a project grant, but is intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, at all levels of their artistic development.
ELIGIBLE DISCIPLINES:
2026 Award Cycle
Craft/Sculpture
Digital/Electronic Arts
Nonfiction Literature
Poetry
Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts
WHO CAN APPLY:
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
25 years or older by the application deadline date
Current residents of New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located in New York State
Must have maintained New York State residency, and/or residency in one of the Tribal Nations located therein, for at least the last two consecutive years (2024 & 2025)
Not enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind
Are the originators of the work, i.e. choreographers or playwrights, not interpretive artists such as dancers or actors
Did not receive a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in any discipline in the past five consecutive years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Cannot submit any work samples that have been previously awarded a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
While collaborating artists are eligible to apply, the total number of artists cannot exceed three individuals (this includes the submitter). Each artist applying must all meet the eligibility criteria for this award. Artists applying as a collaboration cannot apply separately as an individual in the same year
Applicants can apply in a maximum of 2 categories each cycle
Are not a current NYFA employee or have been in the last 12 months, a member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, 2026 panelist, or an immediate family member of any of the above.
Artists that have been awarded five NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships receive Emeritus status and are no longer eligible for the award
nyfa.org/awards-grants/nysca-nyfa-artist-fellowship
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2026 Emerging Voices Fellowship
PEN America
DEADLINE: January 31, 2026 at 8:59pm PT / 11:59pm ET
INFO: PEN America’s Emerging Voices Fellowship will select 10 emerging writers for a five-month mentorship program. The Emerging Voices Fellowship provides a virtual five-month immersive mentorship program for early-career writers from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing world. The program is committed to cultivating the careers of Black writers, and serves writers who identify as Indigenous, persons of color, LGBTQ+, immigrants, writers with disabilities, and those living outside of urban centers. Through curated one-on-one mentorship and introductions to editors, agents, and publishers, in addition to workshops on editing, marketing, and creating a platform, the five-month fellowship nurtures creative community, provides a professional skill-set, and demystifies the path to publication—with the ultimate goal of diversifying the publishing and media industries. Ten fellows will be chosen in 2026. Each will be awarded an honorarium of $1,500.
GUIDELINES: Please read the following closely, as our application requirements may have changed and aspects of our program adjusted for 2026. Learn more information on the benefits and components of the program: https://pen.org/emerging-voices-fellowship/.
FELLOWSHIP TIMELINE: The five months of the fellowship are designed for fellows to connect with mentors and their cohort, and refine their writing project while learning new skills and building relationships with publishing industry professionals, PEN America staff, and the literary community.
January 1-31, 2026: 2026 Emerging Voices Fellowship Application period
May 2026: All applicants will be notified by May 15
July-November 2026: 2026 Emerging Voices Fellowship period
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at time of application.
Applicants do not need to be a U.S. permanent resident and/or citizen but must be residing in the United States at the time of applying for, and during the duration of, the fellowship.
Applicants must be available to participate actively in all dimensions of fellowship programming, including mandatory virtual workshops, virtual gatherings and virtual public programs.
Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-granting program at the time of the fellowship's start date (July 2026). Doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework are considered eligible.
Applicants cannot be a recipient of an advanced degree in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.
Applicants cannot have one or more books published through major or independent publishers, university presses, or established presses, nor have a book under contract to a publisher at the time of application. Chapbooks or work published in literary journals are acceptable.
Former Emerging Voices Fellows are not eligible to reapply.
SELECTION CRITERIA + PROCESS: Given the highly competitive nature of the selection process for this fellowship, we advise using care in your project application. Though the application will be assessed as a whole, fellows will be selected primarily based on the strength of the writing sample by a committee of established writers and publishing professionals, former fellows, and PEN America staff. We encourage you to submit writing that best showcases your work.
Closely review all required materials listed below. Please be mindful of the specific application requests. Failure to follow instructions carefully will result in disqualification. Late applications will not be accepted, without exception. We suggest you submit early to avoid technical issues. Applicants may only submit in one genre to the 2026 fellowship.
The selection decisions of PEN America will be final and not subject to review. We regret that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to provide any individualized feedback at any point during or after the application process. General questions about the application process sent to ev@pen.org will be answered at the discretion of PEN America.
All applicants will be notified of decisions by May 15.
pen.org/emerging-voices-fellowship/
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Bucknell Seminar for Undergraduate Poets 2026
Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA)
DEADLINE: January 31, 2026
INFO: The Bucknell Seminar for Undergraduate Poets, one of the longest running programs of the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts, provides an extended opportunity for undergraduate poets from across the country to write under the guidance of established poets. Based on the model of professional artist colonies, the seminar is held for one week in June. Each year the Seminar admits twelve undergraduate poets, each of whom receives a full fellowship, including tuition, room, and board, as well as a travel stipend. Dates for 2026 are June 7–14.
Undergraduates at U.S. colleges and universities who will complete their sophomore, junior, or senior year in the year of application are eligible. Students who have begun graduate programs are not eligible.
stadlercenter.slideroom.com/#/login/program/86919
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: VOICES ON GENDER, QUEERNESS & BECOMING
IHRAM Press Literary Magazine
DEADLINE: February 1, 2026
INFO: This edition will celebrate the uniqueness of every individual, whether gender queer, non-binary, agender, gender-fluid, transgender, or anyone within the LGBTQ+ community, including those who choose not to label themselves or are still embracing their journey. Each person decides their own path and identity.
We welcome work that reflects on:
Experiences of feeling “othered” by societal rules and norms.
Trans joy, resilience, and creativity as forms of resistance.
Cultural perspectives on gender and identity, and how different societies approach openness.
Reflections on restrictive laws or policies that deny freedom of expression, and the importance of resisting them through art-activism.
This magazine is not about “unconventionality”, but it is about uniqueness, freedom, and growing communities and care. Through stories, poems, essays, and art, we want to honor the joy, struggles, and resistance of queer and trans lives worldwide. We welcome submissions from all over the world, regardless of gender or identity.
humanrightsartmovement.org/ihram-submissions
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Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing 2026–27
Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA)
DEADLINE: February 1, 2026
INFO: Named for Bucknell's renowned literary alumnus ('54) and initiated in fall 1993, the Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing offers up to four months of unfettered writing time for a writer working on a first or second book.
In the current application season, The Roth Residence is open to writers in any creative genre in the literary arts, including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, hybrid work, graphic novel, etc.
The residency provides an apartment in Bucknell's Writers' Cottage and a stipend of $5,000.
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY: An applicant must be at least 21 years of age, reside in the United States, and not be enrolled as a student in an academic program or hold competing professional, academic, or fellowship obligations during the period of the residency. Some record of publication is desirable. Publication (or acceptance for publication) of a second book is disqualifying.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN APPLICATION:
Letter of Application - We suggest commenting on your background as a writer, the project you intend to work on during the Residence, and your reason for seeking this particular residency program.
Curriculum Vitae
Writing Sample (20 pp. maximum) - The writing sample may consist of a complete work, an excerpt from a longer work, or multiple shorter works.
REFERENCES: Recommendation letters should be from teachers of writing or other writing/literary professionals who are familiar with your literary work. Ensuring that recommendation letters are submitted on time is the responsibility of the applicant. We recommend that you discuss the recommendation process with your recommender before completing your application. Please be aware that you may need to begin your application well in advance of the deadline in order to provide your recommenders with the time they need to prepare and submit their letters. We encourage you to check with your recommenders to make sure they receive our prompt.
stadlercenter.slideroom.com/#/login/program/86719
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2026 FAWC Summer Workshop Scholarships
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC) / City of Boston / Fine Arts Work Center (FAWC)
DEADLINE: February 2, 2026 at 8:00pm
INFO: The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC), City of Boston, in partnership with the Fine Arts Work Center (FAWC), is excited to announce the 2026 FAWC Summer Workshop Scholarships opportunity for emerging poets who live and/or work in Boston to participate in FAWC’s 2026 Summer Workshop Program.
The Fine Arts Work Center (FAWC) in Provincetown is a leading residency program for emerging writers and artists, known for its fellowships and summer workshops. In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, FAWC is offering Boston’s emerging poets the opportunity to attend a summer workshop of their choice, expanding access to creative learning and supporting the next generation of Boston poets.
SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS:
Number of Scholarships: 6 total
Coverage: Full tuition, housing, and a $500 travel/food stipend
Writers will spend one week in Provincetown, Massachusetts writing and studying under a poet or writer of their choice
Workshop Selection: Recipients will attend one workshop, selected from their top five choices. FAWC's online catalog will be available to view current class descriptions, in late January 2026, you can go here to view past workshops.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Artists must have lived or worked in the city of Boston for at least the last two years.
Emerging writers must be between the ages of 18 and 35 or, if older than 35, have published no more than one book. (If you self-published a book, you are eligible).
Individuals impacted by long-standing systemic inequities are strongly encouraged to apply.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Please see below for a detailed overview of the application questions. All applicants must submit their application via submittable unless alternative arrangements have been made for accommodations.
Personal Contact Information
Background and Experience
Creative Submission
Programmatic Questions
Demographic information
SELECTION PROCESS:
Selection Facilitator: Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC), City of Boston Poet Laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah, and 2 professionals from the literary community
Final Selection: Applications will be reviewed and scored by literary professionals who will score all applications and determine the strongest candidates to move forward for this round. There will be six poets total to receive this grant from City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture for Summer 2026
KEY DATES:
Application Deadline: February 2, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Notification of Scholarship: March 1, 2026
Workshop Assignment Notification: Early April 2026
RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENTS:
Arrange personal travel to the workshop
Cover any travel/food expenses exceeding the $500 stipend
Relevant communication with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the Fine Arts Work Center
APPLY NOW:
To apply to the FAWC Summer Workshop Scholarship, please complete the application via submittablebelow. If you do not already have a submittable account, you will be prompted to create one in order to fill out your application.
For any questions regarding the scholarship or application process, please reach out to Tom Johnston at thomas.johnston@boston.gov.
ACCOMODATIONS:
MOAC is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience. If you require accommodations to complete the application process or participate in the program, please contact Tom Johnston at thomas.johnston@boston.gov as soon as possible. We are happy to discuss your needs and make the necessary arrangements.
cityofbostonartsandculture.submittable.com/submit/344162/fawc-moac-scholarship-2026
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2026 CantoMundo Retreat
CantoMundo
DEADLINE: February 6, 2026
INFO: CantoMundo is dedicated to serving Latinx poets and poetry across regional, aesthetic, ethnic, racial (e.g. Afro-Latinx/Caribbean/Indigenous) linguistic, generational, and LGBTQIA+ spectrums. Our work is motivated by the understanding that Latinx voices, despite historic silencing, have always resounded within the chorus of American poetry.
CantoMundo hosts in-person and online workshops, readings, lectures, and professional development opportunities for Latinx poets.
Our primary annual event is a 4-day poetry retreat for Latinx poets that provides a space for the creation, documentation, and celebration of Latinx poetry. CantoMundo aims to bring various latinidades into conversation with each other; these represent diverse poetic styles and heritages in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages. Over the course of the retreat, CantoMundo fellows have the opportunity to take poetry workshops from established Latinx poets and to participate in public readings, panel discussions, and informal conversations. Poetry is not critiqued at the CantoMundo retreat workshops. The workshops are generative and accepted fellows participate in two workshops, one with each faculty member.
Past retreats have been held in Albuquerque NM, Austin TX, New York NY, Tucson AZ, and Tempe AZ.
EXPENSES: Fellows accepted to CantoMundo cover their travel and housing during the four-day retreat. We aim to reserve rooms that are affordable and accessible to all abilities, and we provide most meals. If travel and housing is cost prohibitive for you, fellows may apply for a travel scholarship.
hfr.submittable.com/submit/344163/2026-cantomundo-retreat-application
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inaugural PSA Summer Fellowship
Poetry Society of America
DEADLINE: February 15, 2026
INFO: Beginning January 1, 2026, poets are invited to apply to the Poetry Society of America’s inaugural Summer Fellowship session.
The Summer Fellowship, offered free of charge, provides an opportunity for twelve emerging poets to participate in a week-long, intensive writing workshop led by Lynn Melnick at the Poetry Society of America’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, from June 22 to June 27, 2026. This Fellowship is open to all poets 18 years of age or older writing primarily in English.
Daily workshop sessions will be supplemented by class visits from prominent poets and editors of New York–based literary magazines, as well as optional field trips. From roughly 11:30–5:00 p.m. for the duration of the Fellowship, Fellows can expect to be occupied with discussing the craft and profession of poetry in a group setting.
During the Fellowship period, Fellows will have access to the Poetry Society of America’s library, office, and back garden to read, write, and convene. The Fellowship will conclude with a garden party at the Poetry Society of America with readings, snacks, and drinks.
Fellows will have the option to join a listserv to remain in contact with other Fellows during and after the workshop.
WHERE: Poetry Society of America, 119 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
WHEN: June 22 to June 27
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications will be accepted via Submittable.
Applications consist of a short manuscript of poems (10 pages of poetry) and a cover letter (1 page).
The application window is January 1 to February 15. Accepted students will be notified by April 1.
YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD:
A formal cover letter (one page) addressed to the workshop leader summarizing your background, accomplishments, and reason(s) for applying to the Fellowship.
Up to ten pages of original poetry. You must be the sole author of the work you submit. Work made with the assistance of AI or AI tools may not be submitted. You may apply with poems that have been previously published or are forthcoming in journals or chapbooks (please indicate where published poems have appeared). If you are submitting multiple poems, each poem should begin on a new page.
ABOUT LYNN MELNICK: Lynn Melnick is the author of three poetry collections, including, most recently, Refusenik, winner of the Julie Suk award, and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. She is also the author of the memoir, I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton, most recently out in paperback with Spiegel & Grau. Her poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, American Poetry Review, New Republic, and A Public Space. She teaches at Princeton University and Columbia University, and lives in Brooklyn with her family. You can find her online at www.lynnmelnick.com.