The Gillan Award is gifted to one recipient each year. The Gillan Award is given to those who, like the award's namesake, have made great contributions to poetry and poets. They, like Gillan, are passionate educators who work to push new poets to their greatest potential while creating space for established poets to share their voice. Maria Mazziotti Gillan is a woman who has made a tremendous mark on the world of poetry and on this great City of Paterson in particular. Gillan, a Paterson, NJ native, has dedicated over 40 of her 80+ years to making space for poets. To quote her poem, "Spike Heels" as her heels have gone lower and lower, her contributions to our literary community has grown greater and greater while she still continues pounding through life on confident feet. Past recipients include: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Annemarie Vannatta and Yvonne Nambe Roach. Each of the recipients have influenced young writers, supported professional writers and have done so consistently for multiple decades.
Members, partners and the immediate family of Word Seed, Inc.Nonprofit board are ineligible for this award (Do Not nominate us).
Qualifying Candidates will possess the following qualifications:
The candidate’s body of work and/ or service demonstrates one or more of the following:
Include the following in your email: