The Moniack Mhor International Writers’ Residency is a month-long residency programme that will take place in March 2022 and is supported by the British Council and Creative Scotland. Six mid-career / established international writers and three Scottish (UK-based) writers, working in poetry, prose, non-fiction, playwriting, or songwriting, will be given time and space to develop their work, whilst expanding their professional practice through the cross-pollination of ideas across cultures. Participants will also take part in an artistic programme that brings them together with Highland communities and engages audiences with work from different cultural backgrounds.
Selected candidates will be offered the following creative programme:
- A month-long residency at Moniack Mhor, including:
- Stipend of £1000, travel and food costs, and accommodation;
- Time and space to develop work and expand creative practice;
- Informal opportunities to share and collaborate with other participating writers;
- Transport to locations of interest within the Highlands;
- Optional attendance at an in-house event on Gaelic place names.
- Participation in an event programme, including:
- The opportunity to deliver a series of workshops/readings within local communities in the Highlands, or to join a small tour of North-West Scotland;
- An evening ceilidh event alongside Scottish musicians and the local community at Moniack Mhor;
- Involvement with a number of Scottish literary festivals, including Edinburgh International Book Festival and StAnza Festival.
The Connect and Collaborate Residency 2022 will also offers three of the international/Scottish candidates the opportunity to additionally travel to Lagos, Nigeria, in October to participate in LIPFEST, the Lagos International Poetry Festival.
Selected candidates will visit Lagos between 27-30 October 2022 and will take part in:
- Workshops and school visits;
- Three evenings of readings and performances;
- Panel discussions;
- Tailored itineraries immersing the artists in the cultural life of Lagos.
The Lagos Residency will include:
- Flight;
- Local travel;
- Accommodation;
- A $150 stipend.
Connect and Collaborate 2022 is open to international established/mid-career poets and writers living or working outside of the UK, as well as Scottish writers based in the UK.
To be eligible, applicants must have published at least one major work in poetry, non-fiction, playwriting, or songwriting; this could be a novel, a short story collection, a poetry pamphlet, an album, or a professionally staged production of work.
