Intermedia Arts’ Beyond the Pure Fellowships for Writers awards grants of up to $5,000 to four to six emerging Minnesota writers. This program defines an emerging writer as a writer whose work demonstrates a sustained level of accomplishment and commitment, but who has not yet received widespread recognition from peers and/or industry as an established professional writer.

In addition to their grant award, recipients also participate in a nine-month fellowship program that provides peer support, guidance, community, and resources throughout the program year.

Intermedia Arts’ Beyond the Pure Fellowships for Writers places a particular emphasis on increasing the visibility of and providing a platform for emerging writers whose voices have historically been underrepresented in the literary arts, including (but not limited to): writers of color, LGBTQIA+ writers, women, new and recent immigrant communities, Native and Indigenous writers, low-income writers, and writers exploring non-traditional pathways to success. By providing financial assistance, professional development, and recognition to a culturally, ethnically, socially and socio-economically diverse group of writers, this program strengthens and supports Minnesota’s literary community and provides a platform for many new voices to be heard as they achieve their next level of artistic success.

Past fellows have used this opportunity to:
·       Take classes
·       Attend a writer’s conference
·       Travel and/or do research
·       Work with a mentor
·       Have their manuscript read by an established writer
·       Pay for childcare while they wrote
·       Promote a newly published book

These are just a few of the possibilities. We encourage you to give serious thought to how this grant could make a difference in your career!