General Information
Eligibility
Grant Amount
Evaluation Criteria

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Not-for-profit literary magazines are defined as those whose primary mission is to publish contemporary poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction.* Creative nonfiction is distinguished from non-fiction by its strong narrative, literary quality, found in personal essays or memoirs. This does not include works that are primarily analytical, scholarly or journalistic. Interviews, reviews and literary translations are ineligible.

*Web-based publications are eligible as long as they are registered as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and meet all other eligibility requirements. Web-based journals should contact IAC staff prior to applying to this program

ELIGIBILITY

1. Nominations for awards will be accepted from the editorial staff (those individuals responsible for selecting work) of magazines for works published during the period between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003.
2. Nominations will only be accepted from magazine editors. Nominations from individuals will not be accepted.
3. The magazines must be not-for-profit literary publications that are not primarily vehicles for the publication of a school’s faculty and students.
4. Magazines must be published in Illinois at least once a year during both the nomination period and the IAC program year.
5. Writers nominated must be living Illinois residents at the date of application, March 1, 2004, or who are legally Illinois residents but who are traveling out-of-state, (e.g. teachers on leave of absence). In addition, writers need to have been Illinois residents for one year prior to the application deadline. Writers recommended to receive awards will be required to submit proof of Illinois residence prior to claiming their awards.
6. Only works of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction, never previously published, will be considered.
7. Editorial staff may not nominate their own work from their own magazine.
   

GRANT AMOUNT

Two awards of $1,000 will be given to selected Illinois writers and to the magazines that published their work.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Artistic quality is the sole criterion for review.

Applications are reviewed via telephone conference call by a panel of three out-of-state jurors who recommend the award recipients based on the quality of the writing. These recommendations are presented to the Council for its consideration and approval. No single literary magazine or writer will receive more than two awards.