Own Voices alberta - mentorship program
Own Voices Alberta is a writing mentorship program for writers who are part of communities of the global majority, who live in Alberta, and are at the beginning of their literary journey. Writers who are indigenous, Black, Brown, Asian, dual-heritage, and/or have been referred to as "ethnic minorities" are encouraged to apply.
The program runs for four months, February - May and is fully subsidized, making it free for the chosen applicants.
Join our mailing list to watch for our Call for Applications.
The program runs for four months, February - May and is fully subsidized, making it free for the chosen applicants.
Join our mailing list to watch for our Call for Applications.
About own voices
Own Voices Alberta is shaped by the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
designed to yield new literary works, explore the BIPOC experience, and initiate dialogue that celebrates our diversity and contributes to a deeper understanding of one another. Programming includes mentorship, workshops, discussions, networking, public reading opportunities, industry events, and more.
The program runs from March to July 2021. This year, it is going to be held entirely online, unless otherwise specified for events and activities.
Own Voices Alberta reflects AWCS's advocacy of writing, through the meaningful engagement of emerging writers within the BIPOC community in Alberta. Our hope is to create opportunities for BIPOC writers, empowering them by supporting their self-determined journey to becoming established members of the literary community.
Mentorship is a significant part of the program. Participants are carefully matched with mentors who can address their specific creative and writing goals. Mentors are well-established members of the literary community.
The program also provides access to events and activities that:
• help advance participants’ literary skill sets;
• encourage the strong connections within the writing community
• help develop participants into established writers
Own Voices Alberta wants to spark creativity and ignite passion for the craft. It supports participants in defining their own writing success. The program is intentionally structured to sustain participant engagement beyond the program period, with a vision of producing well-established members of the writing community.
The program includes:
• Meaningful mentorship
• Courses and events held by AWCS and WGA during the program
• 1-year membership to the Alexandra Writer’s Centre Society
• 1-year membership to the Writers Guild Alberta
• Complimentary access to WGA Conference
Selected applicants can also expect:
• a welcoming group of collaborative and supportive peers who will challenge you and help you grow as a writer, boosting your confidence and developing your skills and competencies
• a space where you can explore and reinforce your identity as writer
• a platform to develop and further your writing objectives
• expanding your network within Alberta’s creative community
In 2019, the program was launched in Calgary, following its successful run by WGA in Edmonton. Formerly known as Borderlines Writers Circle Calgary, the program's new name is inspired by the Own Voices movement. Coined by writer Corinne Duyvis, #OwnVoices started as a movement that encourages authors from marginalized or underrepresented groups to write from and/or about their own perspectives and experiences. Participants from Calgary's inaugural year are closely involved in developing this year's program.
Candidate Criteria
Representatives from AWCS, WGA, and previous participants of the program make up the panel that will select this year's participants. A shortlist of candidates that will advance to the interview stage, which will further filter to a final selection.
Shortlisted candidates are required to meet the following criteria:
1. The candidate must be a part of the BIPOC community and is not yet established in Canada’s mainstream literary scene.
2. The candidate must be a resident of Alberta.
3. The candidate has a working knowledge of English.
4. The candidate is a Canadian citizen, refugee or landed immigrant, living in and around Calgary.
5. The candidate is available to attend evening events and activities with reasonable regularity for the duration of the program, with a view of potentially speaking in a public setting.
6. The candidate must provide writing samples. Published works are not required.
7. The candidate does not need to stick to a particular genre or type of writing. However, they must have a clear intention of exploring and possibly establishing a future in writing.
8. The candidate must provide a sample of their work, published and/or unpublished.
designed to yield new literary works, explore the BIPOC experience, and initiate dialogue that celebrates our diversity and contributes to a deeper understanding of one another. Programming includes mentorship, workshops, discussions, networking, public reading opportunities, industry events, and more.
The program runs from March to July 2021. This year, it is going to be held entirely online, unless otherwise specified for events and activities.
Own Voices Alberta reflects AWCS's advocacy of writing, through the meaningful engagement of emerging writers within the BIPOC community in Alberta. Our hope is to create opportunities for BIPOC writers, empowering them by supporting their self-determined journey to becoming established members of the literary community.
Mentorship is a significant part of the program. Participants are carefully matched with mentors who can address their specific creative and writing goals. Mentors are well-established members of the literary community.
The program also provides access to events and activities that:
• help advance participants’ literary skill sets;
• encourage the strong connections within the writing community
• help develop participants into established writers
Own Voices Alberta wants to spark creativity and ignite passion for the craft. It supports participants in defining their own writing success. The program is intentionally structured to sustain participant engagement beyond the program period, with a vision of producing well-established members of the writing community.
The program includes:
• Meaningful mentorship
• Courses and events held by AWCS and WGA during the program
• 1-year membership to the Alexandra Writer’s Centre Society
• 1-year membership to the Writers Guild Alberta
• Complimentary access to WGA Conference
Selected applicants can also expect:
• a welcoming group of collaborative and supportive peers who will challenge you and help you grow as a writer, boosting your confidence and developing your skills and competencies
• a space where you can explore and reinforce your identity as writer
• a platform to develop and further your writing objectives
• expanding your network within Alberta’s creative community
In 2019, the program was launched in Calgary, following its successful run by WGA in Edmonton. Formerly known as Borderlines Writers Circle Calgary, the program's new name is inspired by the Own Voices movement. Coined by writer Corinne Duyvis, #OwnVoices started as a movement that encourages authors from marginalized or underrepresented groups to write from and/or about their own perspectives and experiences. Participants from Calgary's inaugural year are closely involved in developing this year's program.
Candidate Criteria
Representatives from AWCS, WGA, and previous participants of the program make up the panel that will select this year's participants. A shortlist of candidates that will advance to the interview stage, which will further filter to a final selection.
Shortlisted candidates are required to meet the following criteria:
1. The candidate must be a part of the BIPOC community and is not yet established in Canada’s mainstream literary scene.
2. The candidate must be a resident of Alberta.
3. The candidate has a working knowledge of English.
4. The candidate is a Canadian citizen, refugee or landed immigrant, living in and around Calgary.
5. The candidate is available to attend evening events and activities with reasonable regularity for the duration of the program, with a view of potentially speaking in a public setting.
6. The candidate must provide writing samples. Published works are not required.
7. The candidate does not need to stick to a particular genre or type of writing. However, they must have a clear intention of exploring and possibly establishing a future in writing.
8. The candidate must provide a sample of their work, published and/or unpublished.
