The Cave Canem Foundation is inviting applications for the 2027 Cave Canem Fellowship, an exceptional opportunity designed to support and develop the work of Black poets. The fellowship provides selected poets with access to an intensive, fully funded literary retreat featuring poetry workshops, readings, professional development, and opportunities to build lasting connections within a vibrant community of writers. The 2027 Cave Canem Retreat will take place from 6–13 June 2027 at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg in Pennsylvania, United States. Applications are open to eligible poets who meet the fellowship’s age and submission requirements. A Unique Opportunity for Black Poets Cave Canem is dedicated to nurturing the artistic development of Black poets and creating a supportive environment where writers can deepen their practice, exchange ideas, and engage with established voices in contemporary poetry. The annual retreat brings Fellows together with respected faculty members for an intensive period of study, writing, discussion, and performance. Participants represent a broad range of poetic traditions, making the fellowship particularly valuable for poets interested in exploring different literary approaches and expanding their creative practice. Poetry represented within the Cave Canem community may include blues, confessional, experimental, dramatic, lyric, narrative, performance, political, and other poetic traditions. Fully Funded Retreat With No Application Fee One of the most attractive features of the Cave Canem Fellowship is that there is no application fee, thanks to support from institutional funders and individual donors. The annual retreat is also free for selected Fellows, allowing participants to focus entirely on their artistic development without paying a retreat participation fee. This makes the fellowship an especially significant opportunity for Black poets seeking an intensive literary experience combined with access to an established creative community. What the Cave Canem Fellowship Includes Successful Fellows will receive a range of benefits designed to support both their immediate artistic development and their longer-term careers. The fellowship includes: Invitation to the 2027 Annual Retreat Participation in intensive poetry workshops and readings Access to the Fellows & Faculty Fund Access to exclusive scholarships for selected writing residencies Archival training Opportunities to participate in public programming, including readings, panels, and multidisciplinary collaborations Subscription to a bimonthly Cave Canem resource featuring community news and exclusive opportunities Beyond the retreat itself, Fellows become part of an expansive network of poets, faculty members, and literary professionals. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must meet the fellowship’s age requirement. Each candidate must confirm that they will be at least 21 years old at the time of the 2027 Cave Canem Retreat, which is scheduled for 6–13 June 2027. The fellowship is specifically intended to support the work of Black poets. Application Requirements Candidates are required to submit their application through Submittable. Each application must include a cover letter and a carefully prepared poetry writing sample. The writing sample must comply with the fellowship’s formatting requirements. Applicants must submit: A PDF containing six pages of poems Poems must be written in English The applicant’s name must not appear anywhere on the poetry attachment Each poem must begin on a new page Page breaks must be used to separate individual poems Each poem’s title must be formatted in bold The document must include page numbers in the footer, using a format such as “Page 2 of 6” The poetry document must use a legible 12-point serif font Only one application per candidate is permitted Applicants should pay close attention to these technical requirements because submissions that do not follow the stated guidelines may be disqualified. Preparing a Strong Writing Sample Because the fellowship is centered on literary excellence and artistic development, applicants should select six pages that represent their strongest and most distinctive work. The sample should demonstrate a clear poetic voice, deliberate craft, and a thoughtful engagement with language and form. Careful editing and formatting are equally important. Since the poet’s identity must not appear on the poetry attachment, applicants should review document headers, footers, metadata, and the body of each poem to ensure anonymity is preserved. The cover letter should complement the writing sample by clearly communicating the applicant’s relationship to poetry, artistic goals, and reasons for seeking participation in the Cave Canem community. Important Application Deadline Applications for the 2027 Cave Canem Fellowship must be submitted by Tuesday, 6 October 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted. Because formatting errors can result in disqualification, prospective applicants should allow sufficient time to prepare, review, and upload their materials before the deadline. Why the Fellowship Matters The Cave Canem Fellowship offers more than a retreat. It provides Black poets with an opportunity to study with distinguished faculty, strengthen their creative practice, participate in public literary programming, and become part of a powerful community of peers. For emerging and established poets seeking focused artistic development and meaningful literary connections, the 2027 fellowship represents a valuable opportunity to invest in their writing while joining a community dedicated to advancing Black poetry. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) does not take ownership or credit for the opportunities shared on this platform. All opportunities are sourced from official announcements and external sources for informational purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to verify all details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements from the official source before applying. Opportunities may be updated or changed by the providing organisations.