26 Aug Talking Gourds: Fischer Poetry Prize Celebrates 29th Year, Deadline 8/31!
The Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program proudly celebrates its 29th year of honoring the late Telluride poet and attorney Mark Fischer.
For more information on the Talking Gourds Poetry Program and its national Fischer and Cantor poetry contests, visit tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
Final judge for this year’s contest is Talking Gourds director Art Goodtimes. Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2025. Visit the website for details: tellurideinstitute.org/fischer-cantor
Go here for more about Talking Gourds.
“Whether promoting young poets or rewarding veteran word-slingers, our poetry contests help support a strong literary arts program and community on Colorado’s Western Slope,” explained Talking Gourds director Art Goodtimes. “Participants not only buy into the contest lottery, but also support all our work with readings, zooms, live shows, awards, local and regional laureates. Think of it as a gofundme tariff for non-urban arts.”
The Fischer Poetry Prize began in 1996 in memory of the late Mark Fischer, who died tragically in his 40s while skiing the slopes of Telluride. His wife, Elaine Cantor Fischer, a revered local political leader, champion of the arts and painter, helped start the Fischer Poetry Prize with the Talking Gourds poetry program and supported it until her own death just a decade ago.
The Cantor Family continues to support both contests.
The Fischer Prize contest is open to English language poets of all ages living anywhere on any topic in any style, although contestants are wise to review past winners on the Talking Gourds website. The first place winner receives $1000, plus there are five $250 outstanding finalist prize winners. Foreign winners need to cover any costs of transferring prize money out of the U.S. to their home abroad.
Contest organizers are sensitive to providing participants with more than just a spin at the poetry roulette wheel. Feedback on poems, explaining how far the poem progressed in the contest’s eight-step review process and offering a brief critical scan, is available for an $8 fee per poem.
Base fee to enter the contest is $12 per poem. The third poem of three gets a $6 discount. Thus, 2 poems are $24, 3 poems are $30, 4 poems $42, 5 poems are $54, 6 poems $60, et cetera in that sequence
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