These are exceptional times, presenting arduous conditions for artists to develop their work. Artists are faced with the pressure to create, at a time where creating feels impossible. We want to hear about those challenges. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, the Irish Writers Centre is announcing a new round of the Writers-in-their-Residence scheme, designed to provide financial support for selected writers, and to reflect on what it means to be an artist in this time. The aim of this opportunity is to support writers in exploring the challenges of creating during this period, and to share their process with a wider audience. We are looking to appoint two Irish language Writers-in-their-Residence.

For a period of two weeks, the selected two writers will document their creative practice whilst developing an existing work in progress, whether that is a novel, short story, a personal essay, or something else. During this time they will share short vlogs and/or social media posts about their progress and difficulties. These posts serve to give an insight into the writer’s process, and to reflect on creating in this time. The writer would deliver a maximum of two video diary entries per week, one minute each. In addition to this, the writer is asked to write a 1500 word article for publication, reflecting on their creative process.

Scríbhneoir Cónaithe Baile na Gaeilge
Is am eisceachtúil é seo agus tá cursaí ag baint leis a chruthaíonn deacrachtaí d’ealaíontóirí a gcuid saothar a fhorbairt. Tá ealaíontóirí faoi bhrú saothar a chruthú, ag am a bhraitear go bhfuil sé sin dodhéanta. Tá fonn orainn cloisteáil faoi na deacrachtaí sin. I bhfianaise an ráig leanúnach de COVID-19, tá Áras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann ag fógairt babhta nua de scéim na Scríbhneoirí Cónaithe Baile, atá deartha le tacaíocht airgeadais a sholáthar do scríbhneoirí roghnaithe, agus le machnamh a dhéanamh ar cad atá i gceist le bheith i d’ealaíontóir sa lá atá inniú ann. Aidhm na deise seo ná tacaíocht a thabhairt do scríbhneoirí agus iad ag fiosrú na ndeacrachtaí a bhaineann le saothar a chruthú le linn na tréimhse seo, agus a bpróiseas a roinnt le pobal níos leithne. Ba mhian linn beirt Scríbhneoirí Cónaithe Baile na Gaeilge a cheapadh.

Ar feadh tréimhse dhá sheachtain, déanfaidh an bheirt scríbhneoirí a roghnófar taifead ar a gcuid cleachta chruthaithigh agus iad ag forbairt saothar a bheidh idir lámha acu cheana féin, cibé acu úrscéal, gearrscéal, aiste phearsanta, nó rud éigin eile a bheidh i gceist. Le linn na tréimhse sin, roinnfidh siad vlaganna gearra agus/nó postálacha ar na meáin shóisialta faoina ndul chun cinn agus na deacrachtaí a bheidh rompu. Tabharfaidh na postálacha sin léargas ar phróiseas an scríbhneora, agus beidh siad ina bpíosaí machnamhacha ar chúrsaí cruthaíochta faoi láthair. Dhéanfadh an scríbhneoir dhá iontráil físdialainne ar a mhéad in aghaidh na seachtaine, aon nóimeád ar fad an cheann. Lena chois sin, iarrfar ar an scríbhneoir alt 1500 focal a scríobh lena fhoilsiú, ag cuimhneamh ar an bpróiseas cruthaitheach.

Key objectives of residencies:
– To support writers financially to develop their work in progress
– To explore the challenges of their creative process via a total of four short videos (max. 1-2 min) and social media posts
– To create a 1500 word article reflecting on creating during the time of the COVID-19 outbreak
– Each of the two selected writers will receive a fee offered of €640.

Príomhchuspóirí na gcónaitheachtaí:
– Tacaíocht airgeadais a thabhairt do scríbhneoirí chun forbairt a dhéanamh ar a gcuid saothar atá idir lámha
– Na deacrachtaí a bhaineann lena bpróiseas cruthaitheach a fhiosrú le ceithre fhíseán ghearra ( 1-2 nóiméad ar a mhéad) agus postálacha ar na meáin shóisialta
– Alt 1500 focal a chruthú ag cuimhneamh ar chúrsaí cruthaíochta le linn an ráig de COVID-19
– Gheobhaidh an bheirt scríbhneoirí a roghnófar táille de €640.

Who is eligible to apply?
This is an open call to writers who are living on the island of Ireland. Applicants must have a proven track record and at least one book, in the Irish language, published by a recognised publisher.

Cé atá incháilithe iarratas a dhéanamh?
Is cuireadh oscailte é seo do scríbhneoirí atá ina gcónaí ar oileán na hÉireann. Caithfidh iarratasóirí cuntas cruthaithe teiste a bheith acu, agus leabhar amháin ar a laghad, as Gaeilge, a bheith foilsithe le foilsitheoir aitheanta.

How to apply:
Applications are accepted by email only to projects [at] writerscentre.ie ensuring to put “Writer-in-their-Residence” in the subject line.

Conas iarratas a dhéanamh:
Glactar le hiarratais ar an ríomhphost projects [at] writerscentre.ie amháin. Déan cinnte go gcuirfí “Scríbhneoir Cónaithe Baile” i líne an ábhair.

Please include:
– A cover letter including your personal details (in English OR in English and Irish)
– An outline of why you wish to undertake the residency (maximum 1 page).
– An updated Curriculum Vitae (max. two A4 pages) including publications with ISBNs.
– Clearly labelled samples of recent work (three short samples from different works of up to 400 words or between 4-6 poems. Please do not send more as it will not be read.)
– Any relevant information (as necessary) on your proposal such as written excerpts, photos, research information, etc. (max. two A4 pages)
– Please collate all application material into one attachment to ensure that it is eligible for consideration.

Cuir na rudaí seo a leanas san áireamh leis an iarratas:
– Litir mhínithe ina bhfuil do shonraí pearanta (as Béarla NÓ as Béarla agus as Gaeilge)
– Achoimre ar an bhfáth ar mhaith leat tabhairt faoin gcónaitheacht (aon leathanach amháin ar a mhéad)
– Curriculum Vitae suas chun dáta (dhá leathanach A4 ar a mhéad), agus foilseacháin agus a gcuid ISBNanna san áireamh.
– Samplaí de shaothair a cruthaíodh le déanaí agus lipéid shoiléire orthu (trí shampla ghearra as saothair dhifriúla suas le 400 focal nó 4-6 dán. Ná seol níos mó ná sin már ní léifear é).
– Aon eolas ábhartha (de réir mar is gá) maidir le do thogra, amhail slachta scríofa, grianghraif, eolas taighde, srl. (dhá leathanach A4 ar a mhéad)
– Bailigh ábhar uile an iarratais le chéile in aon cheangaltán amháin chun a bheith cinnte go mbeidh sé incháilithe lena chur san áireamh.

Application Deadline:
Monday 5 October, 5pm. Late applications will not be considered.

Spriocdháta le haghaidh Iarratas:
Dé Luain, 5 Deireadh Fómhair, 5pm. Ní ghlacfar le hiarratais dhéanacha.

See link below for further details.