The “Miss Sarah” Fellowship for Black Women is now open for applications, closing on November 15, 2024. This annual fellowship, sponsored by Trillium Arts, offers Black women writers an immersive and creative residency experience, free of charge.
About Sarah M. Johnson
Sarah M. Johnson, born in 1931 in Cleveland County, NC, dedicated her life to her family and community. She moved to Hickory, NC, in 1948, where she believed job opportunities would be more promising. Sarah was recognized as both the local and state “Mother of the Year” by the NAACP in 1986.
This fellowship honors her legacy of creativity and commitment to social justice, providing Black women writers with a supportive environment to pursue their craft. Sarah passed away in 2019 at the age of 88.
Fellowship Details for 2025
For the 2025 fellowship year, the focus will be on Poetry. Selected applicants will receive:
- Residency: A 10-day solo residency in July 2025, with the option to stay at either Trillium Arts’ “Firefly Creek” apartment in Mars Hill, NC, or at the “Montford Manor” residence in Asheville, NC.
- Stipend: $1,000 to support living and creative expenses.
- Transportation: Coverage for travel to and from Asheville, NC (note: international applicants are responsible for airfare to the U.S.).
- Additional Benefits: Tailored resources to support the artist’s specific project needs.
This fellowship offers Black women writers the space, time, and solitude to work on a new project or complete an ongoing one, in a peaceful and inspirational setting.
Eligibility Requirements
- Who Can Apply: Open to Black women writers at any career stage, from any region.
- Travel Coverage: Limited to U.S. domestic travel; international airfare is not included.
- Application Fee: None
Application Process
Submit all required documents as PDFs or Word files (no larger than 10 MB each). Applications should include:
- CV or Resume: Maximum 5 pages.
- Fellowship Proposal Statement: A one-page outline of the proposed project, including its context and goals for the fellowship period.
- Personal Statement – “Why Trillium Arts?”: Explain how a fellowship at Trillium Arts will specifically benefit your creative work (one page).
Letter of Recommendation: The recommender should submit the letter directly via the Submittable application link, addressing these four questions:
- How do they know you?
- What makes your project significant?
- Who could benefit most from this project?
- What inspires them about your work? Deadline for Recommendation Letters: Monday, November 18, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST (three days after the application deadline).
- Writing Sample: Submit a 10–15 page sample of your project (in English, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, in 12-point font). This sample should reflect the work you plan to develop during the fellowship.
- Important: Applicants’ name and project title should appear at the top of each document.
Application Link: https://trilliumarts.submittable.com/submit
Get more information from https://www.trilliumartsnc.org/writing-fellowships-guidelines
Deadline
Application Deadline: November 15, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST
Recommendation Submission Deadline: November 18, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST
Final Notes
This fellowship is a unique opportunity for Black women writers to receive support and resources in a dedicated creative space. Apply soon to secure your chance to participate in this enriching experience.
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