The Camden Festival of Poetry is pleased to announce an open call to its first annual juried Festival Residency. The mission of the Festival is to create community and connection through poetry, and this residency is meant to expand our poetic community. The winner will receive a month-long stay at Millay House Rockland in May 2026, and a $500 travel stipend. This is an opportunity to attend the week-long events of the Camden Festival, as well as time to work on a project during the month. Applicants must propose a workshop that they may be selected to offer at the Festival. The winner will have an opportunity to read either at the Tuesday evening Festival "Preview" event, or later in the month at the Millay House.
 

DETAILS:

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens, 21 years or older, not a resident of the state of Maine, and not enrolled in an educational program at the time of the residency.
• The residency is for the month of May 2026 and is open to poets only.
• The residency is open to individuals with or without an accompanying partner or spouse. No group projects will be considered. The writer is expected to have time to focus on a project during the period of their residency. Please indicate if you would like to bring a partner.
• Submissions open September 15, 2025 and close on November 30, 2025. Winner will be notified no later than January 15, 2026.
• Submissions will not be considered anonymously.
   

REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants will submit examples of their work in a PDF format. Submit 10-12 pages of poetry, with each poem beginning on a new page, formatted in 12-point type. Works may be previously published or in process. 
• Applicants will submit a proposal for a 2-hour workshop that they would lead at the 2026 Camden Festival if selected to do so.
• Applicants will submit a short statement about the project they plan to work on and why they want this residency.
• Applicants will submit their resume in a PDF format.
   

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Your accommodations include one-half of a “double house” located at 198 Broadway in Rockland, Maine, a city that combines an historically significant working waterfront with a flourishing art scene. The duplex, built in 1891, provides a living/dining room, fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, a study, one and a half baths, WiFi, and off-street parking. A bicycle is available for your use. Food is not included but there are grocery and specialty stores nearby. If you aren't driving here, we do recommend that you plan to rent a car to explore the area, pick up groceries, etc.

An easy walk to downtown Rockland will bring you to a vibrant array of art galleries and museums, restaurants and coffee shops, a public library and bookstores, the Harbor Trail, a boatbuilding school, windjammer cruises, and daily ferry service to the islands, as well as the weekly farmers market.

The Festival activities will take place in Camden which is about 10 miles from Rockland.

YOUR HOST:

Founded in 2023 by Meg Weston of The Poets Corner and poet and translator Mark S. Burrows, The Camden Festival of Poetry brings distinguished voices in poetry to Camden for an annual Festival, celebrates Maine poets and singer-songwriters, and encourages young voices in poetry throughout the year. 

Acceptance will be made by the Camden Festival Residency Selection committee.

Submit one poem written in response to a painting or photograph in the Page Gallery exhibition: Art & Ekphrastic Poetry 2025.  Multiple submissions are acceptable but each poem must be submitted with its own form (and fee).  Submissions must be made by October 25, 2025.

10 poems will be selected to be read on The Poets Corner Zoom event on Sunday, November 9th.  If selected, you will be notified by November 3rd.

10 poems will be selected by the artists to be read in The Page Gallery on Saturday, November 15th.  These may be read by the poet, if local and available, or by someone else in their stead.  Poets selected by artists will also be notified by November 3rd.

Submit one poem written in response to a painting or photograph in the Page Gallery exhibition: Art & Ekphrastic Poetry 2025.  Multiple submissions are acceptable but each poem must be submitted with its own form.  Submissions must be made by October 25, 2025.

Student poems may be selected to be read on The Poets Corner Zoom event on Sunday, November 9th.  If selected, you will be notified by November 3rd.

Student poems may also be selected by the artists to be read in The Page Gallery on Saturday, November 15th.  These may be read by the poet, if local and available, or by someone else in their stead.  Poets selected by artists will also be notified by November 3rd.