2026-27 Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award at Interlochen

Details

• The award-winning author will receive a prize of $25,000.
• The award will be presented at a public event co-hosted by the The National Writers Series in Traverse City, MI in April 2027. 
• The award-winner will participate in a 2-3 day residency at Interlochen Center for the Arts in April 2027. The scope and nature of this engagement will be created to suit the award winner.   

Eligible Books

• This prize recognizes the best of fiction or nonfiction literature that centers on the creative process of an artist or the arts—broadly defined—as its theme. 
• Eligible books include full-length books of fiction and nonfiction or collections of short stories and/or essays by a single author. Books of poetry are not eligible.
• Works must be originally created in English and cannot be self-published.
• Eligible books must have a copyright date of 2024 or 2025.
• Books by current Interlochen Center for the Arts faculty or staff and books by authors who were members of Interlochen’s faculty or staff at the time the book was written are not eligible.
• We follow Community of Literary Magazines and Presses Guidelines for contests and are committed, in all we do, to the highest ethical standards. If you are a close personal friend, family member, student (outside of brief, one-off workshops), or if you have engaged the editing/consultation services of any Book Committee Member, or if you are a former or current intern or staff member of any Book Committee Member, please refrain from submitting. Email us at bookaward@interlochen.org if you have questions about eligibility.

 Criteria for Selection

• The books considered for this award will inspire, illuminate, or exemplify creative achievement in fields such as creative writing, dance, film and new media, music, theatre, and visual arts.    

Nomination Process

• Nominators must complete an award submission form for each book submitted.
• The entry form opens on December 15, 2025 and closes on May 15, 2026.
• There is no cost to submit a book for the award.
• The Selection Committee will be made up of representatives from Interlochen Center for the Arts and The National Writers Series.
• Finalists will be contacted in September 2026 for review copies. Interlochen will request from the publishers seven copies and a PDF of those books selected for further review. The winning author will be announced in December 2026 and will participate in an awards ceremony and residency at Interlochen in April 2027.