Upcoming Opportunities
Tartu City of Literature
This call is for a 2-month residency period, November-December 2025. One applicant will be selected.
The deadline for applications is September 26th. The results will be announced by October 6th at the latest on our website and Facebook page.
Tartu is the second largest town of Estonia, but is widely considered its intellectual capital – vitally significant in developing the educational system, culture, science and literature in the Estonian language. In 2015, Tartu was designated a UNESCO City of Literature, which has further enhanced the vibrant literary scene. Tartu City of Literature residency program aims to increase international exchange and communication, contribute to the mobility of writers and translators, offer a creative and inspiring environment, and provide writers with an opportunity to introduce their work to Estonian readers. The programme is open to all writers and translators (translating from Estonian to other languages) from across the world, who meet the criteria described below. The residency program is coordinated by the Estonian Literary Society in cooperation with Tartu Literature House Foundation and in partnership with various other literary institutions.
In 2025, the 500th anniversary of the first printed book in the Estonian language is celebrated across the country. This is a nationwide programme including a number of events and programmes dedicated to literature and book culture. While the majority of the programme is in Estonian, some exhibitions and publications are also available in English, enabling international guests to be engaged in this celebration and learn about the 500-year-old book culture of Estonia. From November 6th to 8th, the interdisciplinary festival Crazy Tartu will take place, bringing together writers, poets, musicians and artists from all over Estonia and also from abroad. The resident will be offered an opportunity to perform at the festival.
What we offer:
· 2-month stay at the Karl Ristikivi residency apartment
· A scholarship of 600 euros per month
· Compensation of travel costs to and from Tartu up to 350 euros
· An opportunity to get engaged in the cultural scene of Tartu and to perform at different events, including the festival Crazy Tartu.
· A contact person who is responsible for making arrangements for performances, meetings and tours and helps to engage in the local literary life
How to apply:
· Fill in the online application form available HERE
· Please upload a fragment (up to 5 pages) of a published text (in Estonian or English) or a fragment of a published translation (from Estonian into another language) in the respective section of the form
More information at: https://tartu.kirjandus.ee/residency-autumn-2025
Criteria
· Upper intermediate level of spoken English.
· At least one published book (fiction or non-fiction), screenplay, theatre script or translation from Estonian into another language by the applicant.
· Interest in Estonian culture and literature.
· Readiness to participate in the local literary life, including events, meetings, interviews, and festivals.
· Literary work during the residency.
Taif City of Literature
Taif City is pleased to share an opportunity for novelists from Creative Cities of Literature to participate in a Writers Retreat taking place in Taif, Saudi Arabia, from 28 November to 5 December 2025.
Participants:
7–10 novelists from the Creative Cities of Literature network.
Requirements:
- At least one published literary work.
- Must be actively working on a novel project during the retreat.
- Writing must align with the theme (novel).
- Must not have participated in the program before.
- Fulfillment of organizational requirements.
- Pre-Registration is required
Kindly register via this link: Registration by 30 September 2025.
Important Dates & Details:
- Application Deadline: 30 September 2025
- Participants Announced: approx. 5 November 2025
- Residency Location: Taif, Saudi Arabia
- Duration: 7 days
- Retreat Dates: 28 November – 5 December 2025
- Support Provided
- Tickets: round trip tickets will be provided
- Accommodation: all accommodations are covered
- Transportation on arrival and departure dates provided
- Meals will be provided
For any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at: taifcityuccn@gmail.com
Heidelberg UNESCO City of Literature
Work Grant awarded by the “Kulturstiftung Rhein-Neckar-Kreis e.V.” in cooperation with Heidelberg UNESCO City of Literature for authors from UNESCO Cities of Literature in the “Commandant’s House Dilsberg”, at Dilsberg Fortress, in Neckargemünd (approximately 14 km from Heidelberg).
Dates: April 13 – July 13, 2026
The building served as the Commandant’s quarters of the Dilsberg garrison in the 17th century. The former Commandant’s House was acquired 1996 and renovated by the Rhein-Neckar-District. Since then the “Commandant’s House Dilsberg” has been a center for the promotion of art and culture: exhibitions, chamber music concerts, open-air concerts, readings, symposia and discussion rounds enrich the cultural life of the region. Here, art, music, and literature grant holders find a creative work sphere.
The duration of the biennial scholarship is 3 months with residence obligation in the Commandant’s House Dilsberg.
-Candidates have the possibility to apply as team of two artists (grant holder and co-fellow) as 2 sleeping rooms are available (individual application is necessary).
-The co-recipient should also have his/her own artistic expertise, which has not necessarily to be in the literary field (could be translation for instance, but also such as music, visual arts, performing arts, film, etc.).
-Both artistic personalities have to demonstrate an artistic or interdisciplinary cooperation and should be personally well acquainted to each other. While the grant holder has to, it is not essential that the co-grantee is coming from a UNESCO City of Literature.
-The co-grantee will be provided with the same financial resources as the grant holder.
-The artists in residence share a kitchenette and a bathroom in the fully furnished apartment.
-The apartment is unfortunately not accessible for disabled persons.
Total value max. € 3,750 per person:
-Subsistence allowance of € 1,350 per person (€ 15 per day)
-Monthly allowance/pocket money of € 750 per person
Application requirements
- Registered residence in a UNESCO City of literature (main grant holder)
- Publication of at least one book (prose, essay, narration, poetry, etc.) by an official/independent publisher (main grant holder)
- Good to very good knowledge of German and/or English language.
- Willingness to participate in local literary life (Dilsberg or Heidelberg) e.g. talks with protagonist of the regional literary scene arranged by the grant donors.
Visit: https://www.heidelberg.de/hd/HD/Leben/writers+in+residence+programme.html for more information and application.
Deadline: September 17, 2025
Ongoing Opportunities
Barcelona
Faber, Residència d’Arts, Ciències i Humanitats de Catalunya a Olot
Faber offers working stays and exchanges for creative people, researchers and professionals in different areas, for scientists, writers, researchers, writers, artists, humanists, musicians, etc. Our residents have the best working conditions and an environment to accompany their projects. In Faber, there are eight spacious rooms, designed to provide comfortable working conditions. There are also several common areas where the residents will be able to exchange their experiences with each other, with the public and with institutions. The Residency is a space open to people from all over the world. Faber will take care of the residents’ stay, providing accommodation, half-board (breakfast and dinner) and a fully-equipped kitchen in case the residents would like to prepare their own lunch. Faber does not cover any travel costs. There is no per diem.
The Faber Residency is open to all disciplines related to arts, sciences, and humanities. It is offered six times per year, for four-week periods. Faber organizes several thematic residencies throughout the year where professionals from the Arts, Sciences or Humanities can come to spend a few days working on their projects and sharing experiences with the rest of the residents. During the stay, the residents collaborate in activities directed to students, professionals or public in general; activities in accordance with a project that will take into account previous demands and needs. Check the website for dates.
Organized by Ajuntament d’Olot (Olot City Hall) and Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government)
Jiwar Creació i Societat
Jiwar has a special interest in receiving non-occidental writers and artists, as well as artists in danger or requesting political asylum because of dangerous situations in their countries of origin. Live and work in a comfortable space. Artists need to provide their own economical resources or grants, which Jiwar can help to obtain by writing letters of support or welcoming. During the stay of the artist, Jiwar offers to accompany the creative process and is able to organize once a month presentation of the work in progress. No meals or per diem are included.
Organized by Mireia Estrada Gelabert
Reykjavik
The Writers’ Residence in Gunnarshús
Open to visiting writers or translators, this program offers a flat in Gunnarshús – the Writers’ House in Reykjavík rented for a minimal fee, for a period of 1-8 weeks.
Organized by Writers’ Union of Iceland
The Writers Residence in Gröndalshús
Gröndalshús is the charming former home of writer, illustrator and scholar Benedikt Gröndal (1826-1907). This writer’s home in the heart of the old town in Reykjavík has been renovated and opened as a cultural house and residency in 2017, run by the Reykjavík City of Literature.
The ground floor houses a residency flat for visiting writers, artists, scholars and translators of Icelandic literature who want to work in Reykjavik. It can be rented for a period of 2 – 8 weeks. The fee is 42.000 ISK pr. week which is well under the market prize of lodging in Reykjavík. The flat is fully furnished, with free wifi and is situated in the heart of the city within walking distance from all major cultural institutions, restaurants and other attractions. An additional charge of ISK 3.500 pr. week is charged for each additional guest.
For availability and further information, please write to bokmenntaborgin@reykjavik.is.
Iceland Writers Retreat
The Iceland Writers Retreat is an annual opportunity for writers to participate in a series of workshops and panels led by an esteemed team of international writers. Between intimate workshops and lectures they’ll offer the chance to tour the spectacular Golden Circle, sit in the cozy cafes of Reykjavik, soak in geothermal hot springs, listen to new Icelandic music, meet contemporary Icelandic writers, and learn about the country’s rich literary tradition. Dedicated blocks of time throughout the retreat allow participants to focus on their writing.
Dunedin
The Robert Burns Fellowship
The Fellowship provides an office in the English Department and not less than the minimum salary of a full-time university lecturer, for one year. It is open to writers of poetry, drama, fiction, biography, autobiography, essays or literary criticism who are normally resident in New Zealand, and who, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, have established by their published work, or otherwise, that their writing would benefit from their holding the Fellowship.
Application open March-June
Organized by Division of Humanities, University of Otago
The University of Otago College of Education/Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence
Remuneration of $28,000 is jointly funded by the University and Creative New Zealand and includes an office in the College. The 6-month residency is offered in association with the Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage Trust which provides rent-free accommodation to writers in the historic Titan Street cottage bequeathed by the late playwright Robert Lord. The Residency is open to established children’s writers who are normally resident in New Zealand.
Organized by Division of Humanities, University of Otago
The University Book Shop and Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage Trust Summer Writer in Residence
The Residency is offered in association with the Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage Trust which provides rent-free accommodation to writers in the historic Titan Street cottage bequeathed by the late playwright Robert Lord. The 6-week residency offers a stipend, and an office and administration base at the University Book Shop. The recipient will be an emerging writer in any genre who, in the opinion of the University Book Shop Summer Writer in Residence Advisory Group, has established, by their published work or otherwise, that their writing would benefit from the Residency.
Organized by The University Book Shop and Robert Lord Writers’ Cottage Trust
The Caselberg Trust Creative Connections Residency
The Caselberg Trust, Dunedin, New Zealand, invites writers, composers, visual and performing artists to complete their creative projects in a harbourside cottage, situated on the Otago Peninsula, a well known haven of creativity and inspiration for many artists. Residencies can be funded or self-funded/sponsored.
The Caselberg Trust’s ‘Creative Connections’ Residency support projects that reach out and make links across a variety of creative media, professional disciplines, and communities relevant to the planned project. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to engage in a creative project and processes, to collaborate effectively with creative media, and with communities relevant to their identified project. The residency is 3 months.
Organized by The Caselberg Trust
Krakow
Visegrad Fund
The Fund is an international donor organization, established in 2000 by the governments of the Visegrad Group countries—Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to promote regional cooperation in the Visegrad region (V4) as well as between the V4 region and other countries, especially in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions. The Fund does so by awarding €8 million through grants, scholarships and artist residencies provided annually by equal contributions of all the V4 countries. Other donor countries (Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States) have provided another €10 million through various grant schemes run by the Fund since 2012.
Edinburgh
Fellowships Programme for International Visitors
The University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) was established in 1969 to promote interdisciplinary research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. It provides an international, interdisciplinary and autonomous space for discussion and debate. Since its foundation more than 1000 scholars from 66 countries have held Institute fellowships; and up to 28 Fellows are in residence at any one time. Housed in a secluded 18th-century courtyard overlooking the Meadows, the Institute is adjacent to most centres of University activity.
Organized by The University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH)
Obidos
Obidos Literary Residency Program
The Obidos Literary Residency Program allows each author to stay between two weeks and up to two months. The Municipality provides a space for accommodation and the creation of the candidate project. The involvement of the author-resident in the community is increased, although the main objective of his/her stay is writing.
The objective is to welcome authors from all over the world, allowing them to immerse themselves in an environment of refuge, suitable for relaxing and creating works, as well as contact, in a privileged way, with Óbidos, its history, and identity. Proposals will be selected according to their cultural interest, consistency with the candidate’s path, and feasibility of the project. Applications are accepted all year.
