Do you need some dedicated time away from all of the distractions of modern life to focus on your writing? If so, then these international writing residencies might be just what you need.
I. The Baltic Writing Residency, Riga, Latvia
Image: Hotel Riga
The Baltic Writing Residency was founded in 2008. Each year, one poet, playwright, or writer of fiction is offered a month-long residency at the Hotel Bergs, a beautiful boutique hotel in Riga. The selected writer also receives $1000 toward travel and living expenses. Applications close on the 15th of December each year, and both established and emerging writers are encouraged to apply.
II. The Centre d’Art Marnay Art Centre, Marnay-sur-Seine, France
Image: Marnay-sur-Siene
The Centre d’Art Marnay Art Cenre offers residencies year-round to writers and other artists in the Champagne-Ardenne region of northern France. The program aims to support residents in their ‘creative explorations, investigations, and professional growth, within an environment of communication and exchange.’ Residents are housed in seven recently renovated studios. The centre offers two scholarships for two-month retreats, one is co-sponsored by UNESCO and the other sponsored by the Ténot Foundation. General applications are considered on a rolling basis.
III. The Paris Review Writer-In-Residence Program, New York City, USA
Image: The Standard Hotel’s 21st Floor Penthouse
Announced just last week, The Paris Review Writer-In-Residence Program is offered in partnership with The Standard Hotel, East Village. The residency offers one writer three weeks’ accommodation at the hotel to work on a book which must already be under contract. Applications will be judged by the editors of The Paris Review and Standard Culture. The residency is open to writers of prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction. Applications close 1 November.
IV. M Literary Residency, Shanghai, China
Image: Shanghai at night by Mike Behnken
The M Literary Residency program, sponsored by the M Restaurant Group, offers a three-month-long residency in bustling Shanghai to a poet, a fiction writer, or a creative non-fiction writer. The resident receives transportation, housing, food, and a $1000 stipend, and is required to participate in two events in the community. Applications for the 2014-15 residencies are now closed; check the website in May for updated application details.
V. The 360 Xochi Quetzal Artist and Writers Residency, Chapala, Mexico
Image: Chapala, located on the shores of the largest lake in Mexico
The 360 Xochi Quetzal Artist and Residency Program is located in Chapala, where the perfect year-round climate and stunning lake and mountain views have long established the region as an international artist mecca. There are two residencies each year; the winter residency runs from 20 December to 17 January and the Fall residency runs from 1 to 31 May (flexible). One writer will be selected for each residency which includes accommodation, wi-fi, a weekly maid service and a food stipend of $1,000 pesos. While the residency is free there is a $36 application fee.
VI. The Jack Kerouac Writer in Residence Project, Orlando, USA
Image: Jack Kerouac lived in this house at the time On the Road made him a national sensation.
The Kerouac Project provides four residencies a year to writers living anywhere in the world. Each residency consists of approximately a three-month stay in the cottage where Jack Kerouac wrote his novel Dharma Bums. Utilities and a food stipend of $800 are included. The Project also offers opportunities for residents to participate in readings, workshops and to interact with the central Florida writing community. Applications for the 2014-2015 residencies close on 31 March 2014 and results will be announced in May.
VII. Gullkistan Residency, Laugarvatn, Iceland
Image: Laugarvatn Village
The Gullkistan Residency was founded in spring 2009 and now runs all year round. It is located on an idyllic farm and accommodates between 3 and 6 people at a time. The farm is located 10 minutes walk from the village of Laugarvatn. In addition to artists residencies, Gullkistan also hosts seminars, arts courses, exhibitions and open studios. Gullkistan is very family friendly and applications are accepted year round. Fees are applicable.
VIII. Sangam House, Nrityagram, India
Image: Sangam House, via Culture360
Sangam House is an international writers’ residency program which brings together writers from across the world to live and work among their peers in a safe, supportive and nurturing space. It is currently located at Nrityagram, 40 kilometres outside the South Indian city of Bangalore. Applications for the 2014/2015 season will open in March 2014. A number of fellowships are on offer including The Nevatia Fellowship which supports non-fiction writing in English, especially in the areas of social and cultural change, and The Dhvani Fellowship which supports the work of translators working in and out of Indian languages.
IX. The Arctic Circle, North Pole
Image: Svalbard in 2012, via VCM
This residency program takes place on an ice-class expeditionary sailing vessel. The Arctic Circle Project brings together writers, artists, scientists, educators and activists, for expeditions encouraging collaboration and unique research opportunities. The current Autumn Art and Science Expedition (running from 25 September to 13 October) is taking place in the international territory of Svalbard, just 10 degrees from the North Pole. The application guidelines for 2014 expeditions will be available from 15 November. You can read more about The Arctic Circle in this piece from the New York Times by philosopher and writer David Rothenberg.
For more writers’ residencies check out our regular Opportunities for Writers posts and follow Aerogramme Writers’ Studio on Facebook and Twitter.
What great opportunities, thank you.
Send me a ticket to any one of them. I’ll go! Well, maybe not to the North Pole.
Hi! Sniffing around for a good opportunity to bring out a collection of essay…probably titled, Singularly living