Travel Fund for Public Readings by English-language Quebec Writers
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) is again accepting applications from eligible organizations to support readings outside of the province of Quebec by English-language authors. The authors must be professional members of QWF.
The fund is limited, so only a small number of readings will receive funding. Please check with QWF before applying to make sure there are still sufficient funds for your reading.
See below for details on the program, eligibility criteria, and application procedure.
About the Program
Through this program, QWF will reimburse authors’ eligible travel expenses for public English-language readings hosted by presenting organizations across Canada. To be eligible, the author must be a QWF professional member, and the host organization must commit to paying an honorarium of at least CAD$300 for a solo reading or CAD$150 for a joint reading. Support for readings is also available through programs such as The Writers’ Union of Canada’s National Public Readings program and the League of Canadian Poets’ Microgrants program.
We will reimburse up to $500 for a solo reading and up to $360 for a joint reading. There can be more than one reading on an application, but the maximum reimbursement for each application will be $1,000.
- The host organization is fully responsible for the author’s honorarium and is expected, where possible, to contribute to the cost of travel, accommodation, and meals when it exceeds the amount QWF reimburses.
- Eligible applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Each author and each organization will have no more than one application per calendar year accepted.
- All readings must take place by December 31, 2026.
- All publicity materials must acknowledge the financial assistance of the Quebec Writers’ Federation and must feature the Federation’s logo (download logo pack).
Reimbursement payments will be made directly to the author after the event and upon receipt of the author’s reading report, invoice form, and itemized receipts.
Eligibility
Host Organizations/Venues/Formats:
- The program is open to public presenters throughout Canada, including but not limited to ongoing reading series, libraries, bookstores, and literary festivals.
- The reading(s) must be held in a publicly accessible venue (library, bookstore, festival location, etc.) and be advertised to the community at large.
- The Quebec Writers Out Loud Fund does not fund conferences, workshops, roundtable discussions, fundraising events, or book prizes, nor does it fund readings for which travel costs are fully covered by another program.
- Each host is eligible for no more than one successful application per calendar year.
Eligible Authors/Books:
- Authors must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and must be QWF professional members currently living in Quebec.
- Writers must have published at least one eligible book with a recognized professional publisher. An eligible book is one that the writer has written in one or more of the following literary genres: novels, short stories, poetry, drama, children’s and young adult literature, graphic novels, or literary non-fiction.
- Featured books must be written primarily in English, although passages in other languages do not disqualify a book.
- Each writer is eligible for no more than one successful application per calendar year.
Ineligible Authors:
- Authors whose publications include only self-published books and/or works in anthologies, literary magazines, community newspapers, free or student newsletters, web platforms, or newsletters of associations or other organizations.
- Current QWF board members.
- Administrators, directors, or staff with the host organization.
- Faculty members at a post-secondary institution serving as a host organization.
How to Apply
The host organization must contact the author and arrange a date with them before applying for funding. For help contacting a Quebec author, write to John Wickham (john@qwf.org).
Once the author and date have been confirmed, the host organization must complete and submit the online application form below at least four (4) weeks before the reading date.
Once the application has been approved, confirmation letters will be sent to both the host organization and the requested author. No funding is confirmed until the host has received a booking confirmation form from QWF.
Please note: Funds are very limited, so we will not be able to fund all applications. Host organizations must ensure their application has been approved before finalizing logistics with the author. Host organizations who have already had an application approved in 2026 should not submit any further applications until 2027.
For more information about this program, please contact Lori Schubert (admin@qwf.org).