Literary Laureate of the North

A $1,000 unrestricted artist award celebrating writers whose work and creative lives have been shaped by Ely, the Boundary Waters, and the North.

Applications close at 11:59 PM on 9/30/26.

About the Award

The Literary Laureate of the North celebrates literary excellence while investing in the writers who enrich our region's cultural life. The award recognizes an accomplished writer with meaningful connections to Ely, the Boundary Waters, or the surrounding North, and supports them in sharing their craft with the community.

The inaugural Literary Laureate of the North will help shape a new tradition celebrating the literary arts in Northern Minnesota.

What the Laureate Receives

A $1,000 unrestricted artist award
Recognition as the Literary Laureate of the North
Featured promotion through Northern Lakes Arts Association
Opportunities to engage with readers and writers throughout the year

Community Engagement

As part of the appointment, the laureate will partner with NLAA to offer four to six literary arts programs during the year.

These may include:

Writing workshops
Public readings
Artist talks
Youth programs
Community conversations
Book discussions

Programming will be developed collaboratively with NLAA.

Who Should Apply?

The award is open to writers whose creative lives have been meaningfully shaped by Ely, the Boundary Waters, or the surrounding North.

You do not need to:

Live in Ely
Write about the outdoors
Be a full-time writer

Connections may include:

Living or having lived in the region
Spending significant time here
Returning regularly to write or create
Drawing inspiration from the landscape or community
Personal, family, or cultural ties to the North

Writers working in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, children's literature, essays, playwriting, spoken word, and other literary forms are encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

The selection committee will consider:

Literary excellence
Meaningful connection to the North
Body of work
Community engagement potential
Ability to inspire and support other writers

Application Requirements

Applicants will submit:

Contact information
Artist statement
Statement describing their connection to the North
Resume or short biography
Writing sample (up to 20 pages)
Brief workshop ideas

First name

Last name

Phone

Address

Website/Social Media

This is a checkbox.

Tell us about your connection to Ely, the Boundary Waters, or the surrounding North. Your connection might come through where you live or have lived, time spent here, family or community ties, or the ways this place has influenced your creative life.

Tell us about yourself as a writer. What do you write? What ideas, experiences, questions, or subjects keep bringing you back to the page?

The laureate will partner with NLAA to offer four to six literary arts programs during 2027. What would you be excited to share with others?

Upload a writing sample that represents your work. Maximum: 20 pages Accepted work may include poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, essays, children's literature, playwriting, or other literary forms. PDF preferred.

Upload a resume OR tell us a little more about your writing experience.

Upload a resume or CV

Is there anything else you'd like the selection committee to know?

If selected, I understand that the Literary Laureate of the North includes partnering with Northern Lakes Arts Association to participate in four to six literary arts programs during 2027, with programming developed collaboratively with NLAA.

If selected, I give Northern Lakes Arts Association permission to use my name, biography, photograph, and brief excerpts from my work to promote the Literary Laureate of the North and related programming. I retain copyright and ownership of my work.

I certify that the writing sample submitted is my own original work and was not written or generated by artificial intelligence.

I certify that the information provided in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

I understand that submitting an application does not guarantee selection as the Literary Laureate of the North.

Celebrate Writers. Strengthen the Literary Arts in the North.

We invite you to invest in the Literary Laureate of the North, an annual award that celebrates and supports writers whose creative lives have been shaped by Ely, the Boundary Waters, and the surrounding North.

The Literary Laureate of the North is more than an award. It is an investment in the power of storytelling to strengthen community, preserve place, and inspire future generations. Through a $1,000 unrestricted artist award, public literary programs, and community engagement, the laureate is recognized not only for literary excellence but also for sharing their craft with others.

Your support helps ensure that writers have opportunities to create, connect, and contribute to the cultural life of our region. Together, we can celebrate literary artists, foster creativity, and build a lasting tradition that honors the voices and stories of the North.

Join us in bringing this vision to life. Your gift helps recognize exceptional writers, expand access to literary arts programming, and strengthen the creative future of Northern Minnesota.

Thank you for investing in the stories that connect us.

Invest in our work!