The Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide
The Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for American-born poets to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in different cultures. This prestigious scholarship supports a year of travel outside North America, providing recipients with the financial means to dedicate themselves to their craft and draw inspiration from new environments.
Overview of the Scholarship
The Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship is specifically designed for poets of American birth who are willing to spend a year outside the continent of North America. The scholarship is administered by the trustees of the will of Amy Lowell at the law firm of Choate, Hall and Stewart in Boston. It is awarded annually to one or two poets.
Eligibility and Requirements
One of the key aspects of the Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship is its accessibility. While many recent winners have been published poets, there is no requirement that applicants have previously published their work. This opens the door for emerging poets with exceptional talent and potential to apply.
To be eligible, applicants must be American-born poets. A poetry sample is a mandatory part of the application.
Financial Support
The prize is approximately $76,000, adjusted for inflation. The amount of prize money is adjusted each year for inflation. In the case of there being two winners, each will receive the full amount. This substantial award allows the recipient(s) to focus entirely on their writing without the burden of financial constraints during their travels.
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Application Process
Applicants must complete an application form (PDF), and there is also the option of providing a brief CV. Unpublished poets should provide a sample of their work of up to 40 typed pages. Published poets can supply one printed volume plus 20 typed pages of their most recent work.
Applications for the 2020/2021 Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship closed on Tuesday 15 October 2019, and hard copy applications must be received by the administering law firm by this date. The deadline is 15 October 2025 (must be received by this date). The successful recipient will be announced in March 2020. The 2019/20 scholarship attracted 295 applications and the winner was Anne Pierson Wiese.
Notable Recipients
The Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship has been awarded to a number of accomplished poets throughout the years. Some notable recipients include:
- 1953-1954: E. L.
- 1973-1974: Kenneth O.
- 1991-1992: Sharon M.
- 1992-1993: Daniel J.
- 2012-2013: Joshua Weiner
- Anne Pierson Wiese (2019/2020): Author of Floating City which won the 2006 Walt Whitman Award.
- Christopher Nelson (2023)
Impact and Legacy
The Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship has played a significant role in supporting and nurturing poetic talent for decades. By providing poets with the opportunity to travel and immerse themselves in different cultures, the scholarship fosters creativity, expands perspectives, and contributes to the enrichment of the literary landscape. The scholarship is a testament to Amy Lowell's commitment to poetry and her desire to support poets in their artistic endeavors.
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