Finding Beauty Poetry Prize
Inspiring Emerging Poets to Find Beauty in Nature
Entries Open SATURDAY 22 MARCH
MARION is honoured to launch the inaugural Finding Beauty Poetry Prize. This special prize has been established in memory of Roger Green, an environmental advocate, writer, editor, lover of poetry, and thinker. Roger strongly believed that beauty had the power to alleviate fear and hardship, and to provide hope and inspiration.
2025 PRIZE THEME: Finding Beauty in Nature
The inaugural theme, Finding Beauty in Nature, invites poets to consider the richness, fragility, and wonder of the natural world. Through this prize, MARION aims to inspire poetic responses that celebrate the landscapes, creatures, and elements that shape our environment.
PRIZES
First Prize – AUD $5,000
Second Prize – AUD $2,000
Shortlisted poets – AUD $750 each
MARION gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Roger Green’s family, whose contribution has made this inaugural prize possible. Their support will provide invaluable encouragement to emerging poets in the ACT region, fostering new voices and perspectives in Australian poetry.
“With a first prize of $5,000, the Finding Beauty Poetry Prize is a significant new opportunity for emerging poets in Canberra and the near region. Few poetry prizes of this scale exist in Australia, making it a vital platform for emerging poets to gain recognition and support. We are proud to honour Roger Green’s legacy by fostering poetic talent and encouraging writers to explore beauty in all its forms.”
KEY DATES
Entries open – Saturday, 22 March 2025
Entries close – Midnight, Monday, 19 May 2025
Shortlist announced – Friday, 20 June 2025
Winners announced – Thursday, 3 July 2025 at the ACT Literary Awards in Canberra
The Finding Beauty Poetry Prize joins MARION’s suite of established family-supported awards that celebrate and nurture emerging writers, including the Anne Edgeworth Fellowship and the June Shenfield National Poetry Prize. The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship is currently open for entries, while the June Shenfield National Poetry Prize will open on Wednesday, 26 March.
