Islands Short Fiction Contest, 2021 Is there fiction in your future?
=0D=0A=The Nanaimo Arts Council is pleased to announce the 2021 Islands Short Fiction Contest, for writers of all ages and experience levels from Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands. Winners will share $2200 in cash and prizes in three categories: junior (under 12s), youth (13-18), and adult (19 and above). This year’s contest places particular emphasis on supporting young people through encouragement and mentoring. Writing can have strong benefits, and studies show that even 40 minutes of creative writing a day for two weeks can increase personal wellbeing.
=0D=0A=Professional writers and librarians will judge the entries. Winning submissions, subject to their author’s permission, will be published on the Islands Short Fiction Contest website (isfc.ca). Every junior and youth participant will receive a certificate of achievement for successfully completing their story.
=0D=0A=Deadline for submissions is March 31, and the awards ceremony will be held online on May 1. You can find contest rules and submission procedures at nanaimoartscouncil.ca This program is made possible through generous assistance and funding from Vancouver Island University’s Department of Creative Writing and Journalism, the Vancouver Island Regional Library, the Nanaimo Foundation, The City of Nanaimo, and the British Columbia Arts Council. Special thanks to Jen Seper at VIRL, and Frank Moher, Sonnet L’Abbé, and William Litchfield at VIU, who have all contributed greatly to the contest.
=0D=0A=Media Contact: Sean Gallagher (250) 323-7155 media@nanaimoartscouncil.ca
=0D=0A=Our sponsors:
=0D=0A=Vancouver Island University:
=0D=0A=About Vancouver Island University
=0D=0A=Vancouver Island University (VIU), located on the west coast of Canada, is one of Canada’s most inclusive universities. We place students and communities at the centre of our work, recognizing that education is a key determinant of social progress and economic prosperity. Our unique student experience includes small class sizes; dedicated, award-winning faculty; and exceptional undergraduate research opportunities that are often conducted in collaboration with our many community partners. We also offer a wide variety of educational options and starting points, including upgrading, trades, undergraduate and graduate programs, to support the varied educational needs of both our domestic and international students. This personalized approach prepares VIU students for success in the workforce and gives them the skills to act as responsible global citizens. At the foundation of this work is our focus on ensuring as many people as possible can access post-secondary education through transformational programs like our Tuition Waiver for Former Youth in Care and EleV – a collaborative partnership with Indigenous communities, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, that supports the success of Indigenous youth at post-secondary and beyond.
=0D=0A=VIU Media Contact: Jenn McGarrigle 250-619-6860 Jenn.McGarrigle@viu.ca
=0D=0A=VIU Department of Creative Writing and Journalism:
=0D=0A=The Department of Creative Writing and Journalism at Vancouver Island University offers comprehensive programs in a variety of genres. Students have the opportunity to work with published and produced professional writers in order to develop professional-level skills in areas ranging from poetry to short fiction to plays and screenplays to editing and online journalism. They may also elect to acquire an understanding of the publishing and entertainment industries as they relate to the careers of professional writers. ah.viu.ca/creative-writing-and-journalism
=0D=0A=Nanaimo Foundation:
=0D=0A=About Nanaimo Foundation
=0D=0A=Since 1982, the Nanaimo Foundation has been stewarding the gifts of energy, ideas, time, and money to make meaningful and lasting impacts in our community. We inspire giving, support our local charitable sector, and build permanent endowments to address the current and future needs of our community. We help donors simplify and enhance their charitable giving, build their own legacies, and carry on their charitable wishes in perpetuity. The Nanaimo Foundation is connected to our community, and amplifies the impact of donations of all sizes through collaboration and strategic granting.
=0D=0A=Nanaimo Foundation Media Contact:
=0D=0A=Laurie Bienert 250-667-4292 laurie@nanaimofoundation.com
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