Cave Canem and EcoTheo Collective are pleased to announce the launch of the Starshine and Clay Fellowship, a new initiative providing financial and development support to emerging Black poets, and fundraising opportunities for Cave Canem.

The second cohort of Starshine and Clay fellows has been selected and announced, and can be found here.

Named in honor of Cave Canem elder Lucille Clifton (“won’t you celebrate with me”), the Starshine and Clay Fellowship was developed to speak to the mentorship Clifton offered Cave Canem fellows during her tenure as faculty at the Cave Canem Retreat.

Award: Two recipients will each receive $500, plus travel and lodging to attend the Wonder in Austin festival, a one-on-one consultation with the final judge, and master classes and other opportunities provided by Cave Canem. Poets will also have their work published in the Autumn 2022 issue of EcoTheo Review, with proceeds of the sale going to Cave Canem.

Deadline: Applications must be received via Submittable by February 28, 2022, 11:59 pm EST.

Entry Fee: There is no entry fee for this fellowship application.

Judge: Airea D. Matthews

Eligibility: All adult Black writers who have not had a full-length book published by or currently under contract with a professional press. Authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 may apply.