SAAG ARTS WRITING PRIZE 2026
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS CLOSES TUESDAY, APRIL 7
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin is excited to announce the 15th annual SAAG Arts Writing Prize. This prize aims to recognize and support emerging writers whose writing relates to the field of contemporary art. Art writing is essential to supporting a healthy art ecosystem, providing access points for contemporary art practice, engaging different voices in the field, and encouraging and developing discourse in the arts.
Writers can be considered for one or both of this year’s categories: 1) Arts Writing and 2) the Aruna D’Souza Award for BIPOC Writers. The requirements and prizes for each category are listed below. All entries are eligible to be included in the digital SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader 2026, which will be shared on the Gallery’s website and sent out to all contributors via email.
This prize focuses on submissions of writing about contemporary art. This includes but is not limited to: exhibition reviews, critical essays, ekphrasis, etc. We will also consider experimental and innovative approaches to writing about contemporary art, including poetry, prose, creative fiction, etc.
CATEGORIES & PRIZES
ARTS WRITING
Winner: $1000.00 CAD cash prize, the opportunity for a paid public program ($391.00CAD) with the Gallery, and the opportunity for an arts writing mentorship.
Runner-up: $250.00 CAD cash prize, and the opportunity for an arts writing mentorship.
ARUNA D’SOUZA (BIPOC)
Winner: $1000.00 CAD cash prize, the opportunity for a paid public program ($391.00CAD) the Gallery, and the opportunity for an arts writing mentorship.
Runner-up: $250.00 CAD cash prize,and the opportunity for an arts writing mentorship
Please see the FAQ for more details about the awards.
ELIGIBILITY
Writers must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. The competition is open to anyone residing in Canada, regardless of citizenship status, and to Canadians living abroad.
For the purposes of the award, an emerging writer is defined as anyone who has not published more than one piece of art writing in a recognized print or online publication, exclusive of student-run journals and magazines, as well as self-published works. Applicants may be asked to provide evidence of publication history upon request (i.e. website, CV, resume).
Applicants may submit one piece of writing for consideration. Submissions are limited to 1000 words. Participants may be considered for both awards depending on their eligibility. Applicants must identify which awards they would like to be considered for. All submissions must be original and previously unpublished, inclusive of online publications.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Electronic submissions are preferred. To apply please complete the application form and send a formatted PDF file of your submission to hkehoe@saag.ca. This PDF will be included as-is without any formatting changes or copy edits in the 2026 Reader.
Writers retain all copyrights to their submitted work. The two winners and two runners-up of the awards will have their work published in the digital SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader 2026. All other submissions are eligible to be included in this publication, but writers who have not been selected for one of the awards may choose to opt out.
The Gallery is committed to continually working towards more equitable systems and practices. We welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, d/Deaf and disabled, and from historically disadvantaged backgrounds.
JURY
The SAAG Arts Writing Prize and Aruna D’Souza Award is assessed by a peer jury of arts writing professionals. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2026 jurors.
The Arts Writing Prize and Aruna D’Souza Award will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Artistic Impact (30%): The submitted piece of writing is effective and interesting. The submitted piece of writing demonstrates a new and exciting contribution to the field of art writing.
Connection to art (30%): The submitted piece of writing provides a unique and insightful perspective on contemporary art, art history, and/or artistic practice.
Originality (20%): The submitted piece of writing shows imagination, creativity, and individuality. The submitted piece of writing demonstrates a unique perspective.
Technical excellence (20%): The writer demonstrates a high level of skill in their craft, and rigor and intentionality in their chosen format.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about the submission process, eligibility, or to request accommodations please contact Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator, at 403.327.8770 x 29 or hkehoe@saag.ca.
Past Arts Writing Prize Readers
The Southern Alberta Art Gallery Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin’s annual SAAG Arts Writing Prize recognizes and supports emerging writers whose writing relates to the field of contemporary art. Art writing is essential to supporting a healthy art ecosystem, providing access points for contemporary art practice, engaging different voices in the field, and encouraging and developing discourse in the arts.
Writers can be considered for one or both of this year’s categories: 1) Arts Writing and 2) the Aruna D’Souza Award for BIPOC Writers. The requirements and prizes for each category are listed below. All entries are eligible to be published in the 2025 SAAG Arts Writing Prize Reader, made in-house at the Gallery’s Tiny Press. All applicants will be provided with a complimentary copy of the Reader.
This prize focuses on submissions of writing about contemporary art. This includes but is not limited to: exhibition reviews, critical essays, ekphrasis, etc. We will also consider experimental and innovative approaches to writing about contemporary art, including poetry, prose, creative fiction, etc.
2025 ARTS WRITING PRIZE WINNER: KAYA PANTHIER
Though her heart resides in Portsmouth, Dominica, Kaya Panthier currently lives and works in Sackville, New Brunswick.
Primarily a painter, Panthier’s work reimagines the landscape of the tropics as one which conceals, protects, and houses spirit. Through a study of incalescence, revolt, exalt, and haunting on the island of Dominica, her current practice blends a reverence for personal legend with an interest in Caribbean folktales.
Her art and writing embodies portrayals of familial relationships, explorations of intergenerational wisdom, and studies in grief. In acknowledgment of the cycles of life and death that permeate every aspect of existence, Panthier draws inspiration from the island’s volcanic origins as a powerful energetic source. These concepts are embedded within her paintings through the use of fluorescent grounds, which give the sense that both flesh and flora are energetically charged by the heat that birthed them.
2025 ARTS WRITING PRIZE RUNNER UP: FRANÇOIS BOUVIER
Originally from Gatineau, François has practiced acrobatics since the age of 5. In his most recent work, he is interested in what emerges when different elements—the acrobatic body, landscapes and digital imagery, personal and collective stories, poetry—are invited to cohabit a space. Working through improvisation, François collects encounters between these elements, weaving a network of relations and repercussions, transforming objects into images and the body into a story.
2025 ARUNA D’SOUZA AWARD FOR BIPOC WRITERS WINNER: LEANNA BARWICK
Leanna Barwick (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist, emerging writer, and facilitator based in Toronto/Tkaronto. Her work moves between systems and stories—shifting through institutional critique, speculative design, and poetic refusal. She traces the architectures of power that erase, contain, and commodify. Leanna holds a Bachelor of Design in Digital Futures from Ontario College of Art and Design University, where her research focused on critical play, game design, and co-design methodologies. As a creative leadership facilitator and Professional Certified Coach (PCC), she builds spaces for relational accountability and collective unlearning. Her practice is rooted in care, disruption, and collaboration—and holds space for what refuses resolution.
2025 ARUNA D’SOUZA AWARD FOR BIPOC WRITERS RUNNER UP: SARAH ROWE
Sarah Rowe is a writer, storyteller, and communications professional with an artist’s eye for detail and a deep reverence for the power of storytelling.
Born in Kitakyushu, Japan, to a Kenyan father and a Canadian mother, Sarah embodies a life shaped by multiple worlds. A mixed-race Black woman, she moves through spaces where cultures intertwine, where art is not separate from life but an extension of it. Now based in Newfoundland she writes to capture the quiet magic of everyday moments in Canada—the way light moves through color, the way stories imprint themselves on memory, the way art invites us to step inside and belong.
As a woman of the world and a single Black mother, Sarah gravitates toward narratives that reflect diverse experiences, knowing how vital it is for children to see themselves in the worlds they imagine. She aspires to create work that invites young readers to find themselves in its pages, celebrating identity, wonder, and the transformative power of art.
FAQ
Are there any formatting requirements for submissions?
We ask that you submit the work you would like considered for the prize as a PDF file. Please do not include any personal information on the document other than the name you would like published with the work (i.e. exclude your email, phone number, or address). Please also include the title for the work if it has one. To best present your work, we suggest that you select a font that is easy to read. Non-conforming entries will not be disqualified or penalized in adjudication but it may affect the printing quality of your work in the Writing Prize Reader.
What constitutes something being "previously published"?
Any work that has been published online or in print, or recorded for broadcast, is considered published and ineligible. For the purposes of the SAAG Art Writing Prize, a work has been published if it has been acquired for physical or digital/online publication by an editor or publisher that is independent of the author, not including student-run publications. Sharing a text through a personal outlet, such as a personal blog, newsletter, or social media post, does not constitute a work being published or broadcast.
I have had two or more pieces of art writing published online. Am I still eligible?
If you have published more than one piece of art writing in another recognized print or online publication you are not eligible for this award.
I have had more than one work of writing published, but they weren’t art writing. Am I still eligible?
Yes, you are still eligible for the SAAG Art Writing Prize if you have publication experience outside of art writing. We may ask that you provide evidence of your publication history to confirm your previous work was not art writing.
Can we submit the writing we entered into the Arts Writing Prize to other writing contests and/or publishers?
We understand that emerging writers are exploring multiple publication opportunities at a time. If you submit the same text to another contest or magazine, and are invited to have your work published elsewhere, please notify us immediately and we will pull your submission from this opportunity. If your submitted work is published before the submission deadline you may substitute another unpublished piece for consideration. If your submitted work is published after the submission deadline you will not be permitted to substitute work and you will not be considered for the Art Writing Prize. The Gallery does not claim copyright on submissions so you may submit your work published in the Reader to other opportunities. We recommend that you disclose that the work was published in the Writing Prize Reader for transparency. If other publishers have any questions or concerns, they can contact Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator | hkehoe@saag.ca.
Can my submission include pictures/illustrations?
Yes, you may include images in your submission. We ask that you ensure you have ownership of images, and/or copyright permission to reproduce images. The Gallery will not be responsible for any image reproduction fees associated with publishing your images in the Reader. Please ensure you have included proper image credits, including the photographer and/or artworks depicted in your final submission.
Can I submit a comic
Yes, if it fits the requirements and criteria for the award. If the comic includes words, those words should not exceed the 500 word limit. The overall comic should not exceed 8 pages.
I would like to submit poetry that responds to contemporary art. Can I submit more than one as long as I’m within the word limit?
You may only submit one work for consideration for the SAAG Art Writing Prize. You may submit a long-form poem or multi-part poem but you may not submit separate poems for consideration, regardless of length. If you submit multiple poems they will be assessed as a collection.
Can I submit in a language other than English?
At this time the Gallery does not have the capacity or expertise to adjudicate submissions in other languages. Past applicants have submitted works that engage with ideas of Anglocentrism by using additional languages. These writers have either provided translations within the work, as an appendix, or let the illegibility stand as an intentional element within the work. If this aligns with your writing practice, we encourage you to explore this within your submission. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Heather Kehoe at hkehoe@saag.ca to discuss how the prize can facilitate your artistic vision.
Is there an age limit for this award?
Applicants must be over 18 years of age at time of submission to be considered for this award. There is no upper age limit.
Can I edit or exchange an entry that I have already submitted?
You may make edits to your submission or resubmit prior to the submission deadline. The google form will allow you to make edits to your submission on the form. You can also send a new version of your document to the Gallery for consideration. The Gallery will automatically consider your most recent submission as your final submission when the submission window closes.
When will I find out about the results?
Applicants will be contacted about results in June 2026.
Do you edit submissions for the publication?
No, all works will be published as submitted with no changes to content or format. In special circumstances our team may reach out with concerns.
Are pen names allowed?
Yes, you may submit under a pen name. Include your pen name on all forms as you would wish for them to appear in any credits. Please be advised that we will need your legal name if you are chosen as a winner in order to issue the prizes. This information will be kept confidential and only your pen name will be used publicly.
What does an “arts writing mentorship opportunity” mean? What will winners receive?
Winners have the chance to engage in a one-on-one virtual meeting (approx. 1-2 hours) with an art writing professional to learn more about the art writing process and sector. The direction of the meeting will be determined by the winners and the mentors. You can inquire about how to get your work published, what goes into an exhibition review, and even workshop some of your writing.
What is your policy on AI Writing?
The Gallery recognizes the ongoing changes and impact AI has on creative sectors, including art writing. The Gallery currently does not have a policy disallowing the use of AI, and will not employ an AI checker for submissions. Instead, we ask that applicants self-declare if they used AI when writing their submission and, if they have, that they disclose how AI was used and their reasoning for doing so. We encourage writers to consider and share in their declaration how they are utilizing these new tools and the implications of AI on their writing practice. Self declarations will be provided to jurors to consider when reviewing submissions.