Application Deadline – February 18, 2013

Program Overview:

Emerge – Surface – Be is a natural extension of The Poetry Project’s program offerings. It formalizes the distinct yet unspoken pedagogical aspect of The Poetry Project’s programs while providing a unique opportunity to support, develop and present emerging NYC-based poets of promise. Three emerging poets will be selected by and paired with poet mentors Anselm Berrigan, Patricia Spears Jones and Edwin Torres, and over the course of nine months be given the opportunity to develop their craft and complete a project. Ideal Fellows will have a project they are working on or want to embark upon, and feel that they would benefit from guidance. Each Fellow will receive an award of $2,500.

In addition to working one-on-one with their mentors, Fellows will have access to all Poetry Project events (free workshops, free readings, free publications) and be included in the Annual New Year’s Day Marathon Reading. Fellows will also read within The Poetry Project’s high profile Monday Night Reading Series as a culminating event with introductions made by their mentors. Fellows will be invited to blog about their experiences as well as post photos and videos on The Poetry Project website and attend Fellows only gatherings so they may get to know and appreciate one another and their work.

Applicants that have achieved some measure of local, regional or national professional recognition will be judged favorably, as will applicants who have been published or had work presented in recognized publications and venues providing they have published no more than one full length perfect bound book and no more than three chap books (not including self-published work in chap book form). The most important criterion is that an applicant’s work shows potential. Therefore, demonstration of a high level of skill and unique stylistic vision will be considered in the decision making process.

The Poetry Project embraces diversity in the broadest sense of the word. This principle is reflected in the choice of mentor poets and will be reflected in the selection of Fellows.

Emerge – Surface – Be is supported with funds from the Jerome Foundation.

Please review eligibility requirements before beginning your application. Direct all questions to info@poetryproject.org. Fellows will be announced in late March 2013.

Downloadable PDF Guidelines and Application: Emerge—Surface—Be_Application* To submit your application and all other required materials, please share them via Dropbox with info@poetryproject.org. All materials must be submitted as PDFs in a single folder, labeled with your first and last name. In addition, the Application PDF (above) and Contact Information PDF are different; please submit them as instructed in the guidelines. If you have a question about either, email info@poetryproject.org. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL OR HAND-DELIVER MATERIALS.

*If the PDF opens in a viewer and says you cannot save information, go to “file,” “save page as” and select PDF and it will save to your desktop.