The mission of Write On, Door County is to inspire readers and writers of all ages at all stages. Our 59-acre campus on Wisconsin's northeast peninsula is a place of inspiration, encouragement, and support. In addition to our residency program, we provide programs throughout the county as well as online.
Write On, Door County is pleased to offer the Dick Scuglik Memorial Residency and Fellowship to a poet or other writer with demonstrated ability and interest in ekphrastic writing. The residency is awarded annually in mid-June. The program honors the memory of Dick Scuglik and his passion for painting and books. The selected writer will be paired with a Door County visual artist. The artist and writer will share work with each other. Each will create new work in response to other’s work prior to the start of the residency. During the residency, both writer and artist will participate in a public event at which the new work is shared, along with a conversation about the creative process. The artist for the 2026 Fellowship is Laurel Grey. While ekphrastic writing is most common in poetry, Write On welcomes applications from all genres, provided the work sample submitted fits the classification of ekphrasis. A small fund is available to assist the writer with travel expenses related to the residency.
Eligibility Requirements
· The contest is open to both published and unpublished writers.
· Writers must be at least 21 years of age.
· Writers may be currently enrolled in a graduate writing program.
· Writers must have demonstrated ability and interest in ekphrasis.
· Please see below for additional expectations.
Submission Requirements
· Submit 10-15 pages of a work sample that demonstrates your ekphrastic writing. Excerpts of longer works are acceptable.
· Include a statement of interest in ekphrastic writing, at least one paragraph but no more than three paragraphs.
· Include a list of publications, if any, highlighting published exphrastic writing.
· Include a one-paragraph biographical statement.
DEADLINE: January 15, 2026.
ENTRY FEE: $40.00
RESIDENCY DATES: Sunday, June 14 through Sunday, June 21, 2026.
THE 2026 PROGRAM: LAUREL GREY Laurel Grey grew up in a U.S. Air Force family, spending her childhood in Japan, Germany, and Texas—an early exposure to varied landscapes and cultures that continues to influence her work. Although she explored many creative mediums throughout her life, she committed fully to a professional art practice in her fifties, turning to kiln-formed glass with focus and urgency.
Over the past fifteen years, Grey has become known for her cascading glass leaf strands, now carried by galleries and gift shops nationwide. Most recently, she has developed a distinctive body of work grounded in what she calls Sabi-Fusion—a sculptural approach that blends contemporary glasswork with driftwood, vintage architectural elements, and other reclaimed materials. Her practice draws on decades of hands-on making, from renovating homes on tight budgets to studying advanced glass-painting techniques with internationally respected instructors.
Based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Grey maintains a working studio in Door County and exhibits at Edgewood Orchard Galleries, as well as select juried art shows where she has earned numerous awards, including Best in Show honors.
About the Public Program The writer selected for the program is expected to engage with Laurel in the creation of new work prior to the residency. The artist and writer will present a public program intended to be informal and engaging with the general public, including writers, visual artists, and appreciators of both art forms. The public program is not a formal lecture or presentation, but a casual event meant to engage and inspire. The selected writer is not expected to have a background in academia or formal presentations but is expected to be able to convey a passion for ekphrasis as well as collaborative creation.
Write On, Door County is pleased to offer the Dick Scuglik Memorial Residency and Fellowship to a poet or other writer with demonstrated ability and interest in ekphrastic writing. The residency is awarded annually in mid-June. The program honors the memory of Dick Scuglik and his passion for painting and books. The selected writer will be paired with a Door County visual artist. The artist and writer will share work with each other. Each will create new work in response to other’s work prior to the start of the residency. During the residency, both writer and artist will participate in a public event at which the new work is shared, along with a conversation about the creative process. The artist for the 2026 Fellowship is Laurel Grey. While ekphrastic writing is most common in poetry, Write On welcomes applications from all genres, provided the work sample submitted fits the classification of ekphrasis. A small fund is available to assist the writer with travel expenses related to the residency.
Eligibility Requirements
· The contest is open to both published and unpublished writers.
· Writers must be at least 21 years of age.
· Writers may be currently enrolled in a graduate writing program.
· Writers must have demonstrated ability and interest in ekphrasis.
· Please see below for additional expectations.
Submission Requirements
· Submit 10-15 pages of a work sample that demonstrates your ekphrastic writing. Excerpts of longer works are acceptable.
· Include a statement of interest in ekphrastic writing, at least one paragraph but no more than three paragraphs.
· Include a list of publications, if any, highlighting published exphrastic writing.
· Include a one-paragraph biographical statement.
DEADLINE: January 15, 2026.
ENTRY FEE: $40.00
RESIDENCY DATES: Sunday, June 14 through Sunday, June 21, 2026.
THE 2026 PROGRAM: LAUREL GREY Laurel Grey grew up in a U.S. Air Force family, spending her childhood in Japan, Germany, and Texas—an early exposure to varied landscapes and cultures that continues to influence her work. Although she explored many creative mediums throughout her life, she committed fully to a professional art practice in her fifties, turning to kiln-formed glass with focus and urgency.
Over the past fifteen years, Grey has become known for her cascading glass leaf strands, now carried by galleries and gift shops nationwide. Most recently, she has developed a distinctive body of work grounded in what she calls Sabi-Fusion—a sculptural approach that blends contemporary glasswork with driftwood, vintage architectural elements, and other reclaimed materials. Her practice draws on decades of hands-on making, from renovating homes on tight budgets to studying advanced glass-painting techniques with internationally respected instructors.
Based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Grey maintains a working studio in Door County and exhibits at Edgewood Orchard Galleries, as well as select juried art shows where she has earned numerous awards, including Best in Show honors.
About the Public Program The writer selected for the program is expected to engage with Laurel in the creation of new work prior to the residency. The artist and writer will present a public program intended to be informal and engaging with the general public, including writers, visual artists, and appreciators of both art forms. The public program is not a formal lecture or presentation, but a casual event meant to engage and inspire. The selected writer is not expected to have a background in academia or formal presentations but is expected to be able to convey a passion for ekphrasis as well as collaborative creation.