Submissions are now open for the 2023 SAAG Arts Writing Prize.

This annual competition recognizes emerging arts writers, critics, poets, creatives and students, providing them the opportunity to expand their practice. For the purposes of the award, an emerging writer is defined as anyone who has not published more than one piece of writing in a recognized print or online publication, exclusive of student-run journals and magazines, as well as self-published works. Writers can submit to one or both of the following categories: Arts Writing and the Aruna D’Souza Award for BIPOC writers. The winners, as chosen by a jury, will receive a $1,000 prize, a two-week residency at the Gushul Studio Writer’s Cottage in the Crowsnest Pass, an editorial mentorship opportunity to write and publish a current exhibition review for Galleries West. All entries will be published in the SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader 2023, made in-house at the Gallery’s Tiny Press bookbinding studio. Participants will receive a copy of the publication. This prize is offered in partnership with Galleries West Magazine.

Categories & Prizes

Arts Writing

Open format arts writing: critical essay, exhibition review, poetry, prose, experimental text, creative fiction, photo essay, etc.

Maximum 1000 words

$1000 prize; Gushul Studio Writer’s Cottage residency (Blairmore, Alberta) for 2 weeks in August, 2022; editorial mentorship opportunity to write and publish a current exhibition review for Galleries West

ARUNA D’SOUZA (BIPOC)

Open format arts writing: critical essay, exhibition review, poetry, prose, experimental text, creative fiction, photo essay, etc.

Maximum 1000 words

Author self-identifies as Indigenous, Black, and/or racialized

$1000 prize; Gushul Studio Writer’s Cottage residency (Blairmore, Alberta) for two weeks in August, 2023; editorial mentorship opportunity to write and publish a current exhibition review for Galleries West

Eligibility

To be eligible, 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. All submissions must be original and previously unpublished, inclusive of online publications. Images are welcomed to be included as part of the texts. The Gallery is committed to continually working towards more equitable systems and practices. We welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, d/Deaf and disabled, and from poor and working-class backgrounds.

Submission Details

Electronic submissions are preferred. Email submissions, or any questions or accommodation requests to Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator. We ask that submissions include a brief biography for promotional use.

Writers retain all copyrights to their submitted work. Selected winners consent to the inclusion of their work in the SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader 2023. All submissions are eligible to be included in this publication, however writers who have not been selected for an award may choose to opt out.

Participants may submit to multiple categories, but can only submit one work per category and will only be eligible to win in one category.

Submissions close June 2 2023 at 5pm.

For questions and submissions email hkehoe@saag.ca.