Welcome to the Giving Page for the 2026 Southern Vermont Writers' Conference. We are thrilled to be a non-profit project sponsored by The Center for Arts and Learning. Your donations to the conference are tax-deductible.

Writing brings people together. At our conference, creativity becomes connection—sparking friendships, building community, and reminding us that our voices matter.

In a time of growing isolation, this gathering offers something essential: space to create, share, and be seen. Writing in community supports mental health, fosters belonging, and celebrates the power of expression.

Your support helps us keep this space accessible, inclusive, and inspiring—so that more people can experience the transformative power of writing together.

Your donations will help us:

1) Lower the conference fee for Early Bird Pricing.

2) Provide at least 4 scholarships again this year.

When we surveyed our participants after last year, they said they wanted all of their meals included so they could focus on their craft during the week. Breakfast is included when a participant books a room at the inn; however, catering for 5 dinners and 4 lunches increases the conference fee significantly. The full conference fee for 2026 (not including lodging) is $1,275. We would like to be able to offer at least 10 Early Bird Spots at $999. Your donation can help make the conference more accessible by reducing its cost.

Our scholarship winners last year were outstanding and added so much to the conference community. Our goal is to offer at least 4 scholarships again this year:

2 Scholarships Covering the Conference Fee Only ($1,275 each)

Yvonne Daley Scholarship for a Vermont writer

Third Act Scholarship for a writer over 65 years of age

1 Emerging Voices Scholarship, which covers the Conference Fee and Lodging ($2,130)

For an early-career writer from a community that is traditionally underrepresented in publishing.

1 Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Scholarship, which covers all expenses, including travel ($4,000)

For a writer from the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Band to come and write in their ancestral homelands

We hope you'll consider supporting the conference, creativity, and connection. Please feel free to email us with any questions: sovtwritersconference@gmail.com

About the 2026 Southern Vermont Writers' Conference

For the 2026 conference, we are moving to the beautiful Inn at Manchester, where our attendees will take over the entire inn from April 12 - 17, 2026. We are thrilled to have a private space for small group sessions, writing time, meals, readings, and gatherings with friends and colleagues. All three of our instructors are returning for another year: Chris Wells for Fiction, Sari Botton for Non-Fiction/Memoir, and Justen Ahren, who will be teaching a full Poetry workshop this year.

Visit our conference website for all the details.

The Southern Vermont Writers project is fiscally sponsored by The Center for Arts and Learning, a nonprofit arts center in Montpelier, VT. EIN: 45-5195841.

If you prefer to donate by check:

Make checks payable to:
Center for Arts and Learning

Memo line:
Southern Vermont Writers

Mail to:
Center for Arts and Learning
46 Barre Street
Montpelier, VT 05602

We accept gifts from donor-advised funds, appreciated stock, and other liquid assets. For more information, please contact Phayvanh Luekhamhan at director@cal-vt.org or (802) 522-3973.

Southern Vermont Writers' Conference

Five Days of Workshops, Writing, & Community