Sylt Foundation African Writers Residency Award for Writers of African Literature

African Writers Residency Award (AWRA)

Course(s) Offered: Art (creative writing)
Course Level: Award, Residency
Provider: Sylt Foundation
Country to Study in: Germany

Scholarship Description
It's that time again for the Call for Applications for Residency: African Literary Writers. For the 2017 edition, this award is in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut and offers, as usual, a two month international working stay at the Foundation.

The Sylt Foundation calls on all writers of contemporary African literature in any genre to apply for the two month African Writer’s Residency Award. It offers an award of a two month 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 AWRA scholarship is awarded annually, and for 2017, only writers who have published in French are invited. Next year it will be addressed to African authors who have published in English.

Eligibility
The call for candidates, and therefore the award, is open to all African authors of any literary genre (poetry, prose, plays, novels)

Writers should be of contemporary African literature, who are related to or engaging with contemporary themes and concerns of Africa and the African Diaspora.

Eligible groups
All writers of African literature

Participating Institutions
Sylt Foundation

Fields of study
The contemporary African writer who wins this Award is expected to work on or complete the writing project they proposed in their application. The residency aims to provide an opportunity to develop the ideas and do research related to this project.

Number of awards
One residency is awarded each year to one winning applicant

Sponsorship duration
A two month residency is awarded to winners.
Attendance is compulsory throughout the duration of the residency. The stay can not be divided or shortened.

Scholarship benefits
The winning applicant will take up this exciting opportunity to enjoy creative writing time at the Foundation Kunst. The Foundation is located on the island of Sylt, off the coast of Hamburg, Germany.

The "Goethe-Institut & Sylt Foundation AWRA" will provide the author with:

• the possibility of starting a new project or completing a project already in progress
• a quiet place for contemplation and research
• writing without being disturbed
• the means to refine his artistic profile
• the opportunity to exchange and network with other international authors and artists

The "Goethe-Institut and Sylt Foundation African Literary Writers` Residency Award" offers:

• a two-month stay on the island of Sylt, a scholarship worth 1,500 Euros.
• the cost of return journeys to and from the country of residence in Sylt (in economy class)
• the payment of visa fees.

While writers are managing career and personal demands, the vital process of conceptualizing and reflection, researching and developing new ideas, so essential to the writing process is often limited. A period of quiet uninterrupted time to focus on exploring ideas is critical to this process which is a challenge when balancing the pressures of everyday life.

Method of Application
To apply, writers are invited to submit: i). a project proposal of the project they wish to work on while in residence - it can be a current or proposed literary project; and ii). a synopsis of the novel, short story or poetry project. Applications are to include all the requested documents as listed on the official website (link to it is below). 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. Material submitted will not be returned to the applicant.

It is important to visit the official webpage via link provided below for detailed information on how to apply for this residency program.

DEADLINES:
The deadline for applications is Friday, June 30, 2017 at 18:00 (Central European Time)

PLEASE NOTE:
No late applications will be considered.

Applications will be kept confidential.

The Sylt Foundation initiates and supports innovative contemporary literary, visual art and performance projects with the aim to encourage cultural dialogue and artistic interaction.
With its residency programmes it offers those international multi-disciplinary artists, performers and writers the opportunity to live and work in the quiet environment on the island of Sylt, in Johannesburg or at other places, where the Foundation works together with its partners.
Residencies are one or two months long and every resident should either work on his own project/reflection or on a project of the Sylt Foundation.

Application Deadline: 30 June 2017
Open to International Applicants: No (ONLY African writers)

More Scholarship Information and Application (Facebook page)
More Scholarship Information and Application (Webpage)

Related: Scholarships in Germany for International Students