Calling Guernsey's Creatives (And Would-Be Creatives)

Have you ever fancied writing a short story, putting pen to paper to try a little poetry or creating your own piece of art? Perhaps it's something you've always wanted to do but never quite got around to.

Well, these three creative competitions are currently open for entries in Guernsey, so now could be a good time to give it a go. There are opportunities to have your work published, exhibited or even displayed around the island, and you don't need to be an established writer or artist to enter.

 

 

1. Poems on the Move

The Guernsey Literary Festival's Poems on the Move competition invites poets from around the world to submit original poems of no more than 14 lines, with no set theme.

There's an Open category with a first prize of £1,000, a dedicated Channel Islands category and a free Young People's category for ages 11–17. Winning poems will be displayed on Guernsey buses, with other selected entries appearing at the airport, harbour and public spaces around the island.

So, if you've got a few lines tucked away in a notebook, or an idea for something new, why not enter?

Deadline: 15 January 2027

 

2. Small Treasures: Guernsey Short Story Competition

Do you have a story you'd love to tell? The Guernsey Literary Festival is inviting writers aged 18 and over with a connection to the Bailiwick to submit their work for Small Treasures, the second volume of the Guernsey Short Story Anthology.

This year's theme explores the hidden value in small things, whether that's a treasured possession, a fleeting moment or an unexpected act of kindness. There's plenty to think about, and lots of different directions you could take it.

Entries can be short stories, flash fiction or creative non-fiction, up to 2,500 words. Twenty stories will be selected for the anthology, which will be launched at the 2027 Guernsey Literary Festival. New writers are very welcome, and the entry fee is £10.

Deadline: 16 November 2026

 

3. Small Treasures: Design the Book Cover

For those who enjoy painting, drawing, photography or other forms of visual art, there's another opportunity to get involved. Art for Guernsey and the Guernsey Literary Festival are inviting local artists to create the cover artwork for Small Treasures.

The theme is the same as the short story competition, but artists are free to interpret it however they choose. Entries can be created in any medium, including photography, and must be submitted digitally in a portrait 6:9 ratio.

Shortlisted artists will be invited to submit their original work for final judging, with the winning piece appearing on the published anthology cover. Shortlisted artwork will also be exhibited at the Art for Guernsey Gallery during the 2027 Guernsey Literary Festival.

Deadline: 16 November 2026 (subject to confirmation)