The Obsidian Foundation has announced the call for entries to its 2025 online poetry retreat, which will run from 14 to 19 December 2025. Fifty poets of Black heritage will be selected for the week-long programme of workshops, talks, and community sessions.
Founded in 2020, the foundation offers its annual retreat to support poets of African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, African-American, and mixed-Black heritage. Participants are encouraged to attend three retreats over five years before joining the organisation’s alumni network, which connects Black poets internationally.
Led by five acclaimed Black poets, the retreat includes workshops, craft talks, peer feedback sessions, and readings. Participants are selected through an open application. Those accepted are encouraged to attend three Obsidian retreats over five years, after which they become Obsidian alumni, part of a growing, international network of Black poets.
Eligibility & Guidelines
- Open to poets of Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage
- Applicants must be 18 years or older
- Submissions are FREE
How to Apply
- Title your application: OBSIDIAN25 – SURNAME
- A 300-word statement on how the retreat will support your development as a poet
- A list of the last 8 books of poetry you’ve read in the past year
- A biographical statement (max 300 words)
- Three poems, each on a new page
- Submit all of the above as one document (PDF or Word) with a maximum of 5 pages
Fees and Bursaries
The participation fee is £350 (subsidised). Ten bursaries are available for poets in financial difficulty. Participants may also choose to contribute anonymously to a “pay it forward” scheme, supporting others’ attendance.
The Obsidian Foundation Retreat 2025 is funded by Arts Council England and supported by organisations including The Poetry Society, Poetry London, Magma Poetry, Cave Canem, the National Gallery, the Scottish Poetry Library, the National Poetry Library, the Poetry Archive, the Poetry School, the Arvon Foundation, and Wasafiri Magazine.
Since its launch, the foundation has positioned itself as a platform for craft development and community building among Black poets, aiming to strengthen voices across the diaspora.
For more information visit their “Call for Entries” page.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
