The Upstart BIPOC Writers’ Residency

The Upstart & Crow BIPOC Writers’ Residency champions the imagination, insight and creative force of writers who self-identify as Black, Indigenous and/or a Person of Colour or People of the Global Majority.

In partnership with Catalyst Agents, this residency includes dedicated time in our Granville Island studio, a $4,000 honorarium and the option of editorial support. 

In a time marked by overlapping global crises and a growing urgency to imagine more equitable futures, we recognize that BIPOC/PGM writers are often called upon to shoulder the additional labour of advocacy, cultural translation and education — a task that is often unacknowledged or uncompensated.

Amidst these pressures, we aim to offer material support and a space where underheard voices are resourced, uplifted, and given room to flourish. We seek to support the creation of a work of fiction or non-fiction that pushes boundaries in form or content, but is rooted first in the writer’s own voice and creative terms. 

This residency privileges and celebrates writers who may be facing systemic barriers to visibility, resources, and publication, and who need the space and time to start and/or complete a significant project. 

Our 2025 jurors are: Chelene Knight, Eddy Boudel Tan, and Billy-Ray Belcourt. 

Applications will open on Monday, August 11. 

With Thanks:

The Upstart & Crow inaugural BIPOC Writers’ Residency is made possible thanks to funding from Catalyst Agents. 

Catalyst Agents is a multicultural creative agency based in Vancouver, specializing in the premium fashion, beauty, real estate, consumer goods, and travel sectors. Founded in 2012 by Florence Leung, the agency was born from a vision to replace tone-deaf marketing with culturally resonant storytelling. Our partnership with Upstart & Crow aligns perfectly with our mission—creating platforms for BIPOC writers to share their stories and inspire broader cultural empathy.

Florence has dedicated her career to uplifting minorities and empowering women through leadership roles as Chairperson for Dress for Success Vancouver’s IMPACT 360 Gala, Founding President of LeanIn.org’s Vancouver Chapter, and Chairperson of the Board at 3H Craftworks, helping adults with disabilities reintegrate into society. Her commitment was recently recognized with the Best Community Service Award from the Association of Chinese-Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE) in April 2025.

We extend our sincere thanks for their generous support and commitment to bridging cultural divides and amplifying diverse narratives.