Just Buffalo Literary Center invites adult poets of all ages and stages of their career to apply for its Poetry Fellowship.
Give yourself the space to write and the time to focus.
Live in one of the nation’s most vibrant literary cities.
Read at an event curated by Just Buffalo Literary Center.
Applications for the 2023 Poetry Fellowship will open in January 2023.
About the Judge
DONIKA KELLY is the author of The Renunciations and Bestiary. Bestiary is the winner of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the Kate Tufts Discovery Award. A Cave Canem graduate fellow and a founding member of the collective Poets at the End of the World, her poems have been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and Foglifter. She is an assistant professor in the English Department at the University of Iowa, where she teaches creative writing.
The Fellowship Award
- A $1,500 stipend
- One month of free lodging during August in a beautiful apartment in one of Buffalo’s most vibrant neighborhoods
- An opportunity to read at an event curated by Just Buffalo Literary Center
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be 21 years or older
- A completed application must be received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline (incomplete applications will NOT be considered)
- Past or present employees of Just Buffalo Literary Center are NOT eligible to apply
COVID-19
We’re committed to honoring a poet as our Fellow, recognizing that the in-person components may need to be adjusted to align with public health guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
The purpose of this fellowship is to enable recipients to set aside time for writing, travel, and general career advancement. We invite applications from adult poets of all ages and stages of their career.
When and where can I apply?
The 2022 application period opened Jan. 31, 2022, with a submission deadline of April 1. Applications are accepted via Submittable.
What languages can I use on my application?
Just Buffalo Literary Center is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. At this time, we can only accept applications in English.
How is the winning Fellow selected?
The writing sample is the most important component of the application. Writing samples will be considered based on artistic merit. Writing samples will be blind-reviewed and scored by three first readers; in a second round, the 25 highest-scored applications will be reviewed by Just Buffalo’s artistic staff; in a third round, 10 semi-finalists will be chosen for blind review by the final judge, who will choose the winning Fellow and up to 5 finalists for honorable mention.
When will the winner of the fellowship be announced?
Applications will be reviewed in April and early May, with the Fellow & all applicants notified of status by May 15, and a public announcement to follow.
Do you offer application fee waivers?
Yes; application fee waivers can be requested by emailing info@justbuffalo.org with the subject line “Poetry Fellowship Fee Waiver.”
What about COVID-19?
We’re committed to honoring a poet as our Fellow, recognizing that the in-person components may need to be adjusted to align with public health guidelines.
Questions about the fellowship?
Email info@justbuffalo.org with “Fellowship Question” in your subject line, or call (716) 832-5400.