The RSL Literature Matters Awards were launched in 2018 with the aim of rewarding and enabling literary excellence and innovation, providing funding to writers and creatives. Following an open call for proposals, each year a total of £20,000 is awarded across a number of projects.

Priority is given to proposals which (a) will help connect with audiences or topics outside the usual reach of literature, and/or (b) will help generate public discussion about why literature matters.

The Awards
a) A total of £20,000 is available – this will be split across a number of projects, which will be chosen by the judges. The winners will be announced in January 2026.
b) An RSL Literature Matters Award must result in new, original writing or other literary activity of an excellent artistic standard, which will reach a substantial readership or audience. It may be:
• a piece or pieces of writing
• a publication
• an event
• a production
on any subject and in any form, including (but not limited to) prose fiction, short stories, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, graphic fiction, biography or travel-writing.
c) We are especially interested in and will give priority to writing or projects which:
• engage with topics or audiences outside the usual reach of literature e.g., collaborations with other disciplines, or projects aimed at readers or audiences rarely engaged in literature
• and/or generate public discussion about the difference that literature makes to people’s lives and to the world e.g., through media coverage, online forums or interactive events.
d) The Awards are administered in all respects by the Royal Society of Literature.

Eligible Applicants
a) Applicants must be permanent UK residents. We are unable to offer grants to citizens of the UK living abroad.
b) The person applying should be a writer or other literary creator with a successful track record to indicate the proposal is likely to succeed. We accept applications from small groups or collaborations/collectives of writers, but not from organisations, this includes publishers, presses, registered charities, CICs and companies.
c) Applicants must be 18 or over at the time of application.
d) You must be in need of the funding to carry out the proposal and be able to demonstrate this and how the money would be used.
e) Anyone who has received any RSL Award or Prize (not including Fellowship) in the last two years may not enter.
f) We welcome projects in partnership with organisations but if the project is dependent on their involvement, you must have already confirmed with them that they are willing to collaborate with you. Please make this clear in your application.
g) Successful projects will receive funding in January 2026, so you will need to demonstrate how the amount you are asking for will be used towards your project after this date. Projects must be due to be completed within 12 months of potential funding.
h) Projects will need to be safe, demonstrable and actionable, in light of the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic. You must show that you have taken this into consideration in your application, ensuring the safety of all participants and feasibility of delivering the project should circumstances change.
i) Current members of RSL staff and trustees are not eligible to apply.

Entry Guidelines
a) Please ensure that you have read and understood ALL of the above prior to submission to ensure that your project is eligible.
b) Complete all sections of the entry form in full. Please only click submit when you have completed the form.
c) Entries should be made via the online form; no email or postal applications will be considered without prior agreement and there is no need to submit any additional documents.
d) Do NOT include any links in your application as these will be removed.
e) The closing date for applications is Friday 8 August at 5pm.