Alaska Literary Awards

The Alaska Literary Awards were created in 2014 through the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation, supported by a gift from Peggy Shumaker and Joe Usibelli. The program is administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts. These awards were designed to celebrate and sustain the creative contributions of writers in Alaska by providing direct financial support to individuals across a broad range of literary forms. The program specifically acknowledges the importance of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and mixed-genre writing as vital elements of the state’s cultural landscape. The awards provide recognition and unrestricted financial assistance to Alaska writers. Recipients are selected on the basis of the quality of their submitted work, with no formal limitations on how the award funds may be used. This flexibility allows recipients to apply the funds in ways that best support their creative process and career development. The program underscores the role of literature in building cultural identity and offers writers the resources and validation to advance their practice. Applicants must be legal residents of Alaska, at least 18 years old, and not full-time students or enrolled in art-related degree or certification programs. Applications are submitted through the CaFE system and must include a resume or curriculum vitae and a writing sample. Work samples must reflect material created within the past two years and can consist of published or unpublished work. Specific requirements apply to each genre, with a limit of fifteen pages for poetry, prose, playwriting, screenwriting, or mixed-genre submissions. Applicants must combine all work samples into one document and include their name on the first page. Applications will be reviewed by Alaska State Council on the Arts staff for completeness before moving to a panel review. The panel, composed of writers in the disciplines represented, evaluates submissions based on literary quality, demonstrated activity in the field, and the degree to which an award could advance the writer’s career. The decisions of the panel are final. Award recipients will be notified by October 30, 2025. Each recipient must maintain Alaska residency through the fellowship year, expend funds by December 31, 2026, and provide a brief report to the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation by December 31, 2025, describing how the award supported their work. The awards are valued at $5,000 each, with a select number given annually. There is no fixed number of awards published in advance, but each recipient benefits from flexible use of funds and recognition as an Alaska Literary Award winner. Previous recipients include writers across different genres from multiple regions in Alaska, affirming the statewide reach of the program. For instance, in 2024, awards went to writers from Utqiaġvik, Talkeetna, Fairbanks, and Denali National Park. The deadline for the 2025 competition is August 31, 2025. Awardees will be announced in late October. Questions about eligibility or the application process may be directed to the Alaska State Council on the Arts at asca.info@alaska.gov. Applicants are also reminded that the Internal Revenue Service may consider certain fellowships exempt from taxation, and recipients are advised to consult their local IRS office for guidance on tax implications. This award program remains a significant resource for writers who contribute to Alaska’s diverse literary community.