Apply for a Carolyn Moore Writing Residency
A Program of PCC's Humanities & Arts Council
Portland Community College and the Humanities & Arts (HARTS) Council invite writers of all genres—including poetry, fiction, and non-fiction—to apply for a 2024 Residency. The Residency is the first of its kind to be hosted by a community college in the United States. PCC’s mission is to deliver access to quality education while advancing economic development and promoting sustainability in a collaborative culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Consisting of three- to eight-week terms at the Carolyn Moore Writers House in Tigard, Oregon, the Carolyn Moore Writing Residency offers writers concentrated time to focus on developing a written work, while also providing PCC students the opportunity to meet and interact with talented writers from across the country. Residents visit in-session classes either virtually or in person, give readings for the PCC and Greater Portland community, and host small groups of creative writing students in the Great Room of the Carolyn Moore Writers House.
The Writers House is a beautiful log cabin home with full modern amenities on nine acres, complete with a fruit orchard, gardens, and a marsh. The house has two wings, enabling two concurrent residencies. Each wing has its own generous living space, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, as well as separate access to the onsite laundry room.
In addition to use of the House and grounds, residents receive a stipend of $400 dollars per week, delivered in full upon arrival.
The Residency was made possible by a generous gift from the estate of the poet and educator Carolyn Moore (1944–2019), who grew up on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. Carolyn Moore’s interdisciplinary legacy as a creative writing, literature, and critical thinking instructor (she taught for 20 years in Northern California) with an interest in science, along with her passion for social and environmental justice, are in keeping with PCC’s own focus on creativity, equity, and sustainability. Our hope is that the Residency program will carry on Carolyn’s creative legacy.
Applications for the 2026 academic year will be accepted in May of 2025. Read about the inaugural 2021–22 residents, the 2022-23 residents, and the 2023-24 residents.
To apply, you must have a Google account. There is no application fee.