Nominate a spoken word artist for the 2025 Lillian Allen Prizes
The League of Canadian Poets and the Ontario Arts Council are excited to announce that nominations and submissions are now open for the second annual Lillian Allen Prizes, which recognize and celebrate spoken word poetry artists working in English or French.
- The Lillian Allen Prize is for a spoken word artist with five or more years’ experience.
- The Lillian Allen Emerging Artist Prize is for a spoken word artist with less than five years’ experience.
These prizes, which carry an award of $2,000 each, alternate between recognizing Ontario artists (2024) and artists from anywhere in Canada (2025).
The prizes are named after Canadian poet and spoken word artist Lillian Allen. Her distinctive approach to poetry through language, music and social consciousness continues to capture attention and make change. She embodies the excellence, creativity, and professionalism that she has brought to the form, and we recognize her community building and generosity of spirit by naming this prize in her honour.
Nominations for the Lillian Allen Prizes are submitted to the League of Canadian Poets, which manages the assessment and selection process. Full information on eligibility and nominations are available on their website.
Key Dates
- Nominate a Canadian spoken word poet by June 30, 2025.
- Submit a nomination for yourself by July 31, 2025.