Poetry Micro-Grants
About
Upstart & Crow’s Poetry Micro-Grants celebrate the talent and promise of emerging poets, offering a small boost of encouragement — and funding — to help bring bold new visions to life.
We’ll be awarding six micro-grants in two installments: three in the summer and three in the winter. Each micro-grant includes a $500 award and the opportunity to have selected work printed, displayed, and distributed through Upstart & Crow.
Applications for our Winter Instalment are now open. Click here to apply.
What are the goals of this initiative?
We aim to uplift emerging voices that are experimenting with form, language, and perspective. These micro-grants are not intended to reward perfection, but to recognize promise and support the development of new work in its early stages.
By providing a modest financial award alongside opportunities for public visibility, we hope to build pathways for emerging poets to grow, connect, and continue to shape their creative voices.
What will each recipient receive?
- A $500 micro-grant, awarded in recognition of a strong portfolio and artistic promise.
- The opportunity to have their work printed, displayed, and distributed through Upstart & Crow.
Who is eligible?
This initiative is open to emerging poets in the early stages of their literary careers — those who have not yet published a full-length collection but are actively engaged in developing their poetic practice.
Eligible poets may be:
- Writing and revising poems regularly
- Submitting work to journals, zines, or chapbooks
- Participating in workshops, readings, or literary community events
- Seeking creative opportunities for growth and connection
Additional eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must not have published a full-length poetry collection (chapbooks are welcome and do not disqualify).
- Applicants must currently reside in Canada, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Protected Persons.
- Writers must be 18 years or older at the time of application.
Applications will be evaluated on the following:
- Voice and originality: The strength, uniqueness, and resonance of the poet’s voice across their submitted poems.
- Creative commitment: Evidence that the poet is actively pursuing and developing their craft.
- Artistic potential: The degree of promise shown in the work, including the ability to take risks, explore ideas with depth, and engage readers emotionally or intellectually.
Dates and details:
- Applications for the Winter 2025 Poetry Micro-Grants are now open
- Deadline to apply: Monday, November 3 at 11pm
- Winners will be notified by the end of November
- One recipient will be announced each month in December, January, February
