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Saturday, November 24, 2012

AFRICAN LITERARY WRITERS: RESIDENCY APPLICATION



The Sylt Foundation calls all Writers of contemporary African literature to apply for the two month African Writer’s Residency, offered as part of the Sylt Foundation Residency Programme. One residency will be awarded annually to Africa writers who have published poetry, prose, plays and novels.

The Foundation is located on the island of Sylt, off the coast of Hamburg, Germany. The Foundation’s residency programme has been running for several years offering opportunities to South African and international visual artists, writers and photographers. It is managed under the directorship of literary scholar and curator Indra Wussow.

The aim is to offer a residency to writers of contemporary African literature, who are related to or engaging with contemporary themes and concerns of Africa and the African Diaspora. The award is open to published writers of poetry, prose, plays and novels.

Following the success of many years of engagement with contemporary African and South African literature and writers, the Foundation has sought to leverage its residency programme by inviting applications from African writers who, through a juried selection process, will be awarded this invaluable opportunity.

This Residency will provide the writer with an opportunity to focus on or complete a project in progress with an uninterrupted period for writing in a quiet space. This offers a means to leverage their artistic profile and the opportunity to engage with other international writers and artists. The winner is expected to work on or complete the writing project proposed in their application.

Writers of African literature are invited to submit: a project proposal of the project the writer wishes to work on while in residence - this can be a current or proposed literary project – along with a synopsis of the novel, short story or poetry project.

Applications to include a copy of a valid passport conforming to Schengen visa requirements, full CV; writer’s profile in English (500 words) plus two Letters of Reference in English from literary professionals, publishers or academics. Also required is an excerpt (stating the publishers) from one published book, a volume of poetry or a (publicly staged) play with information as to where and date it was staged.  

Selection will be by two separate panels which will comprise the Foundation’s director - Indra Wussow (a literary scientist) – as well as other literary experts.

Art Source South Africa is appointed by the Sylt Foundation as Organisers of the Award and manages this residency programme. The Organisers do not vote and have no influence on the selection and judging process.

Deadline for application submission is by 16h00 on February 15, 2013, with the announcement and notification of five shortlisted finalists following on April 1. The announcement of Residency Award Winner will be held on June 1 and Residency to be taken up from June 2013 to 2014.

NB: Digital applications in MS Word or PDF documents only (no hard copy proposals accepted). The copyright of all published material will be respected by the Foundation so digital copies of published books may be submitted and will be handled with due care.)

Submit entries to email: info@artsourcesouthafrica.co.za Enquiries to 011 447 2855 (Monday - Friday 09h00 to 16h00) No late applications will be considered. Applications will be kept confidential. For additional information visit www.artsourcesouthafrica.co.za