2025 SAAG Arts Writing Prize Call
Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin
Deadline for submissions: March 28, 2025
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin is now accepting submissions for the 14th annual SAAG Arts Writing Prize. This prize aims to recognize and support emerging writers whose writing relates to the field of contemporary art. Art writing is essential to supporting a healthy art ecosystem, providing access points for contemporary art practice, engaging different voices in the field and encouraging and developing discourse in the arts.
Writers can be considered for one or both of this year’s categories: 1) Arts Writing and 2) the Aruna D’Souza Award for BIPOC Writers. The requirements and prizes for each category are listed below. All entries are eligible to be published in the 2025 SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader, made in-house at the Gallery’s Tiny Press. All applicants will be provided with a complimentary copy of the Reader.
This prize focuses on submissions of writing about contemporary art. This includes but is not limited to: exhibition reviews, critical essays, ekphrasis, etc. We will also consider experimental and innovative approaches to writing about contemporary art, including poetry, prose, creative fiction, etc.
Categories & Prizes
Arts Writing
- Winner: $1,000 CAD cash prize, opportunity for a paid public program ($376 CAD) with the Gallery, opportunity for an arts writing mentorship.
- Runner-up: $250 CAD cash prize, opportunity for an arts writing mentorship.
Aruna D’Souza (BIPOC)
- Winner: $1,000 CAD cash prize, opportunity for a paid public program ($376 CAD) the Gallery, opportunity for an arts writing mentorship.
- Runner-up: $250 CAD cash prize, opportunity for an arts writing mentorship
Eligibility
Writers must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. The competition is open to anyone residing in Canada, regardless of citizenship status, and to Canadians living abroad.
For the purposes of the award, an emerging writer is defined as anyone who has not published more than one piece of art writing in a recognized print or online publication, exclusive of student-run journals and magazines, as well as self-published works. Applicants may be asked to provide evidence of publication history upon request (i.e. website, CV, resume).
Applicants may submit one piece of writing for consideration. Submissions are limited to 1000 words. Participants may be considered for both awards depending on their eligibility. Applicants must identify which awards they would like to be considered for. All submissions must be original and previously unpublished, inclusive of online publications.
To learn more and to apply, please visit saag.ca/programs.
