Literary Arts

The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival is proud to sponsor our annual Poetry & Short Story Contest, open to anyone writing in English. We encourage national and international writers to practice their craft by submitting previously unpublished poems and short stories for judging. Since 1975, our non-profit organization has striven to bring the arts and humanities to the community of Westmoreland County. Our Poetry & Short Story Contest allows us to do so while providing an exceptional forum for writers and poets to present their original work.

Two jurors are selected each year. One juror evaluates poetry submissions, and a second juror reviews short stories. Winners are notified by the end of May. All cash prize winners and honorable mention recipients are also invited to read their works live onstage at the Festival.

Downloadable 2027 Poetry & Short Story Entry Form

Postmark Deadline: March 31, 2027

* If applying before October 1, your payment will not be processed till after this date, when our fiscal year starts.

**On the application, you may need to update your Adobe if the signature field does not allow you to sign.

 

Meet Our 2026 Juror

Lisa Bompiani-Smith, PhD, NBPTS, MA, BS

 

Congratulations to Our 2026 Poetry & Short Story Contest Winners!

Poetry Awards:

  • Westmoreland Award: “Our House of Many Doors” by Mary Ellen Raneri – Latrobe, PA
  • First Place: “Glass of Water” by Liz Pozen – Boston, MA
  • Second Place: “Potatoes” by Donna Aycock Meares – Grass Valley, CA
  • Third Place: “Lost Connection” by Carol Clark Williams – York, PA
  • Honorable Mention: “On the Stove” by Jean Marie Olivieri – Mebane, NC
  • Honorable Mention: “Eight Degrees from Vincent” by Linda Sienkiewicz – Rochester, MI
  • Honorable Mention: “Something Fresh, Something Local” by Innocenzio (Chez) Grignano – Central Hall, PA

Short Story Awards:

**Stories contain adult content and are not suitable for minors. Reader discretion is advised.