Apply

Summary

Open to all poets who fall into any of the following categories: 1) any student enrolled in a Ventura County high school, community college or university; 2) any resident of Ventura County who began regularly writing and/or performing poetry within the last five years; 3) any resident of Ventura County who has not published a poetry collection or chapbook.

Please submit up to two unpublished and original poems no more than three pages in total length. Submissions in any standard format will be considered, but .pdf is preferred to ensure your original formatting remains completely intact. Poems do not need to be on any theme or topic; choose the one or two which best represent(s) your recent work.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts. All shortlisted poems will be published in a booklet that will be available in the gallery as part of the Emergence exhibition. Shortlisted poets will also be invited to perform their poems at Poetry in the Gallery on February 22nd, 2025.

The winning poem will receive the inaugural Leon Priestnall Poetry Prize of $300, and two runners-up will receive $100 each.

Application Deadline: January 31st, 2025
Notifications: February 8th, 2025
Booklets Available: February 11th, 2025
Poetry in the Gallery: February 15th, 2025