Community Impact

Catholic Literary Arts Announces
The Winners Of
The Emerging Writer Grant Program And
The Emerging Artist Grant Program
2026-2028

As a home for writers and artists of Faith, Catholic Literary Arts exists to sustain the intellectual and spiritual development of creatives while offering instruction to improve the craft of writers of all ages. We encourage standards of achievement and excellence grounded in the virtues, tradition, and Revelation of the Catholic faith.

The year 2026 marks the debut of the Emerging Writer Grant Program and the Emerging Artist Grant Program.  These grants create the opportunity for our organization to mentor one writer and one visual artist who are already highly respected within his or her field of endeavor. These grants also allow our organization to assist with the publication of one book by each grantee.

Each grantee will work with Catholic Literary Arts leadership to forge a new program benefitting the greater Houston community by bringing additional educational and engagement opportunities to the people we serve.

The Emerging Writer Grant is awarded to Tamara Nicholl-Smith.

Please click here for Ms. Nicholl-Smith’s acceptance speech.

Please click here for Ms. Nicholl-Smith’s professional biography.

The Emerging Writer Artist Grant is awarded to Al Sauls.

Please click here for Mr. Sauls’s acceptance speech.

Please click here for Mr. Sauls’s professional biography.