Championing emerging poetic artists young and old, with up to $6,000 in prizes
SAN FRANCISCO, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As part of its mission to spread love and a helping hand to poets and artists worldwide, the ruth weiss Foundation today announced the 2-week countdown for poetic artists to submit applications for its 2nd annual poetry grant program, offering $6,000 in prizes that seek out works of verbal and stylistic originality. Staying true to the theme of NATURE, grant applications for three poetry awards are being accepted now through August 1.
Since 2021, the ruth weiss Foundation has remained committed to uplifting and amplifying the voices of emerging writers in storytelling through its annual grants. Inspired by the life and legacy of renowned poet ruth weiss, the Foundation launched its annual grant program to give opportunities and support the work of poetic artists across the globe.
"ruth weiss championed the beginning steps of poets throughout her life, watching up-and-coming writers evolve and develop their craft, and discovering the new voices of the next generation," said Elisabeth Montgomery, president of the ruth weiss Foundation. "The Foundation was inspired by ruth weiss, and we continued her wish after she passed away on July 31, 2020. It was very important to ruth to help other poets and artists, and we are honored to be able to continue that dream and make it into reality through our annual grants."
This year's NATURE theme reflects a devotion to the planet and connection to biological ecology. Writers are encouraged to illuminate new ways of viewing the environments and biomes in the world that directly influences the economic, social, environmental, educational, and moral values and behaviors of people.
Poets young and old are encouraged to submit applications for three award categories, including Maverick, Emerging and Youth.
- Maverick Poet Award – The Maverick Poet Award is open to all poets that embody the spirit of the maverick. Whether published or not, ruth weiss' spirit is the exemplar of the maverick. The award embodies great independence, often taking the non-conformist or unorthodox stance in thought and action.
- Emerging Poet Award – Whether just starting out or well into a journey of writing, Emergent poets include a wide range of writers that exude a passion for writing. ruth weiss championed emerging poets throughout her long life as a bell-weather writer watching others evolve.
- Youth Poetry Award – The Youth Poetry Award is open to young writers under the age of 18 who have things to say that have never been said before, in ways that have never been seen before. This award reflects a new battalion of teenagers who want to take poetry in new directions to suit a new world.
Grant applications are being accepted now through August 1, with final award recipients announced during a virtual event at WriterCon 2022 in September. To apply for a 2022 ruth weiss Foundation grant, visit: https://www.ruthweissfoundation.org/.
The annual grant program also complements an award-winning documentary presented by the Foundation and directed by filmmaker Melody C. Miller entitled, "ruth weiss: the Beat Goddess documentary," which documents not only weiss' gift to humanity but archives significant historical moments in our world's social and literary movements. Since it's premiere in 2019, the film has received more than 20 awards, including Best Documentary at the Peekskill Film Festival in New York and the Visionary Women in Film Award at the Santa Cruz Film Festival.
In collaboration with the Beat Museum in San Francisco, "ruth weiss: the Beat Goddess documentary" will be touring with the Beat Museum on Wheels across the country to shed light on ruth weiss' electrifying and intimate poetry. For more info about upcoming film screenings and the Beat Museum on Wheels roadshow, please visit https://www.ruthweissfilm.com/.
About the ruth weiss Foundation
Founded with the desire for spreading love and a helping hand to poets and artists, the ruth weiss Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that honors the life and legacy of renowned poet, author, performance artist, playwright, filmmaker, actress and activist ruth weiss. Its mission is to give opportunities and support the work of poetic artists through its annual grant program. For more info, visit https://www.ruthweissfoundation.org/.
Media Contact
M.C. Vartabedian, ruth weiss Foundation, 1 7736620454, [email protected]
SOURCE ruth weiss Foundation
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