The AfterWord Residency pairs nationally acclaimed authors with Colorado-based artists to create original work in conversation with literature. Selected artists receive a $1,500 stipend to develop creative responses inspired by featured books, culminating in public presentations at Denver Public Library. This interdisciplinary program celebrates the connections between books and artistic expression across music, dance, visual art, performance, and more.
Questions about the Afterword Residency or need guidance before applying? Contact us at beyondthestacks@denverlibrary.org
Submissions are Closed
2026 Afterword Residency program is closed.
Applications for 2027 with the author lineup will open in December 2026. The author programs will be in May, June, July 2027.
Application Timeline
- Applications open: January 5, 2026
- Applications close: January 31, 2026 (11:59 pm MT)
- Review period: February 1–7, 2026
- Artist notifications: By February 10, 2026
All applicants will be notified of the outcome.
About the Public Presentations
AfterWord Residency culminates in live, in-person programs that bring artists and authors into conversation with an audience. Artists will create a complete, original response developed specifically for this residency and designed for a single public presentation.
We prioritize works that come alive in a shared, time-based setting—performance, sound installations, multimedia experiences, or participatory creative presentations that unfold live and engage audiences in real time. Proposals should consider how the work will be experienced in the moment and how it might resonate in dialogue with the featured author.
2026 Opportunities
Henry Hoke — Open Throat
Public Performance: April 4, 2026 | $1,500 Stipend
Create music, sound-based work, or time-based media (non-narrative film/video) responding to Henry Hoke's surreal and haunting novel Open Throat.
Important note: Due to active development deals, we cannot accept theater, performance, or narrative film/video adaptations. We welcome imaginative soundscapes, experimental compositions, sonic installations, or time-based media interpretations that can be presented engagingly at the public event.
Melissa Broder — Death Valley
Public Performance: June 2026 | $1,500 Stipend
Work across any artistic discipline- visual art, dance, music, performance, time-based media- inspired by Melissa Broder's darkly funny, surreal exploration of grief, the body, and the desert landscape in Death Valley.
Community Creative Invitation: Ross Gay — The Book of (More) Delights
Public Celebration: August 2026 | Open Community Invitation
Join us for a joyful collective celebration inspired by Ross Gay's reflections on everyday joy. We're inviting the Colorado creative community to share small creative responses such as sketches, photos, short musical works, brief poems, or micro-performances inspired by The Book of (More) Delights.
How to Participate:
- Share your work on social media during July 2026, tagging #DenverPublicLibrary and #AfterWordResidency
- Or submit your creative response directly to us, and we'll share it on DPL's platforms
Selected works will be featured at the August 2026 public event and in event materials. All contributors will be acknowledged as part of the celebration.
Please note: This is a community invitation, not a funded residency position. No stipend is provided.