Join Us

We are offering scholarships for students in the following areas, all with an June 1, 2026 deadline:

• Park County, Montana Resident
• Diversity Scholarships
• Indigenous Scholarships

What do we mean by a “diverse writer”? Diversity includes a range of experiences from things like gender, sexual orientation and race, to religion, abilities, and economic background — anything that lends a different lens through which a writer might view (and therefore respond to) the world.

To apply for a scholarship, please follow this link.

Please note: All scholarship funds will be allocated by July 1, and no scholarship applications will be taken after the June 1 deadline.

Chico Hot Springs

Lodging arrangements must be made and paid for separately by each student. Chico Hot Springs has a variety of lodging options, and we’ve reserved a block of rooms for your convenience. There are accessible, shared and PET-FRIENDLY! rooms in our block.

To reserve a room, call Chico at (406) 333-4933 and ask for a room for the Elk River Writers Workshop, October 18-23, 2026. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you make your arrangements as early as possible, particularly if you have any special needs. However, Chico is giving us a special rate so if you cancel your reservation less than 30 days from check-in, they will charge your credit card.

Chico’s amenities include hot spring pools, a day spa, two restaurants, a garden, a gift shop and a saloon with live music most weekends. They host horseback riding (weather permitting). You may want to come early or stay late, get in some hiking or fishing. Nearby Livingston has a lively arts scene, great restaurants, bars and shopping.

Other Accommodations

Other area lodging is available at the Sage Lodge, and through AirBnB and VRBO. Cabins and campsites are available at the local KOA (15 miles); primitive camping can be reserved at two national forest campgrounds, Snowbank and Pine Creek (make reservations through recreation.org). Nearby Dailey Lake has a limited number of primitive sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Note: October can be cold, snowy even. Please do not consider camping unless you have experience doing so in adverse weather conditions.

There is no camping at Chico or within walking distance.

Several of the faculty will available for a limited number of individual manuscript critiques of 90 to 120 pages. These will include a remote consultation before the workshop, a one-on-one in-person session during the workshop week, and notes on your manuscript. The cost for this service is $1,250 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please inquire at andrea.peacock@elkriverarts.org for further details.

Students will pay a nonrefundable $250 deposit upon acceptance to hold their place. Full payment is due by August 1, and refunds after that point will be available only if we can fill your spot. No refunds will be made after September 1, 2026.

Also note that Chico Hot Springs is giving us a special rate so if you cancel your reservation less than 30 days from check-in, they will charge your credit card.

By registering for this workshop, I give permission for the Elk River Writers Workshop/Elk River Arts & Lectures to take photographs and video, and to gather content generated from the Eventee app social wall. These images may be used for publicity purposes in print, digital and social media. Permission excludes audio of original writing, and no recording of any sort will be permitted during the faculty workshop sessions.

Elk River Writers Workshop strives to inspire its participants to be leaders in an ever-changing world. To accomplish this goal, we must attract and promote a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. We must preserve both safe and brave spaces. We believe that literary achievement requires a diverse range of ideas, perspectives, and contributions. Race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, socioeconomic class, disability, religion, citizenship status, and country of birth all play a role in our view of diversity. We recognize the ever-changing landscape of justice and rights, and pledge to constantly reevaluate our own culture in order to remain aware of how disparities in power and opportunity relate to social categories and identities, and how these disparities can divide people and groups in ways that benefit some while limiting others.

To become the inclusive community we seek, we must treat one another fairly, kindly, and respectfully, creating an environment in which no voice is silenced and all individuals can thrive. Our dedication to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism work has the capacity to challenge and alter long-held attitudes and behaviors. As a result of this commitment, the faculty and staff of Elk River Writers Workshop will hold ourselves accountable to educating ourselves and those around us to be resourceful, mindful of injustice and power, and to have moral courage. The instructors and staff recognize the importance of love in any successful relationship and healthy community. And because we recognize the importance of love in a student-centered program like ours, we will keep these pledges out of love for our participants and community.

Elk River Writers Workshop takes place on the traditional homelands of Apsáalooke (Crow), Salish, Tsetho’e (Cheyenne), Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla people. It is also the site of trade, travel, gathering and healing for many other Native tribes and is still home to over 78,000 Native people in the state of Montana.

It is our responsibility as a humanities program to share knowledge about Native people and the area’s history with them. Consistent with the Elk River Writers Workshop’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice, we will continue building relationships with Native American communities and individuals through learning opportunities, partnerships, historical recognitions, community service, enrollment efforts, and by offering Native scholarships, studying Native art and lifting Native voices.

Know what Native Homelands you reside on, by clicking here: https://native-land.ca/, and find out ways to support and promote the work, art, and livelihoods of Native people in your area.