Residency opportunity in New Zealand for Scottish writer

Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre, are working in partnership with Verb Wellington, Te-Whanganui-a-tara and Aotearoa New Zealand to offer a residency for a Scottish and Aotearoa writers. Applications are invited for 'Island to Island', a residency exchange supported by The British Council for established writers working in creative non-fiction, fiction, or long-form poetry.

Island to Island offers the opportunity for a Scottish writer and an Aotearoa writer to receive time and space in a fresh environment to inspire their creative work, while connecting with audiences and literary communities in both countries.

In August-September this year, an Aotearoa writer will travel to Scotland for a three-week residency. The writer will join the Edinburgh International Book Festival at an event with their Scottish counterpart in late August, ahead of the residency period at Moniack Mhor. During their visit to the Highlands, they will also travel to Skye for a micro-residency to further explore the island theme.

Then, in October-November, a Scottish writer will travel to Wellington for a three-week residency which will include appearance at the Verb Readers & Writers Festival and a micro-residency in Kāpiti Island.

Wellington, NZ

As well as performing together at the Scottish and Aotearoa festivals, the writers will also have the opportunity to co-deliver a workshop to young people or community group in the Scottish Highlands, as well as taking part in a reading of international writers at Moniack Mhor.

Moniack Mhor Writers’ Centre is situated in the Scottish Highlands, Teavarran, Kiltarlity, 14 miles outside Inverness. Since 1993, Moniack Mhor has been working with writers from the UK and beyond to deliver creative writing courses, retreats and other support for writers of all ages and abilities and from all walks of life.  Moniack Mhor is a registered charity and is supported by Creative Scotland as a Regularly Funded Organisation. It also offers courses, mentoring and a leadership programme for care experienced young people aged 14-26 in Scotland, via funding from Life Changes Trust.

The centre also facilitates several writing awards as well as providing residential opportunities for professional, published artists to develop their work. It works closely with other key Scottish literature organisations and other UK and international partners, and runs a broad community programme. It also runs a wide programme of creative opportunities for care experienced young people in Scotland and provides writing tuition in Highland schools.

Verb Wellington was founded in 2014 and has been creating opportunities for writers in New Zealand’s capital city. Their mission is to build environments within in which creative writing can thrive: this includes live events, festivals, residencies and advocacy.

Every November they host a festival that supports Aotearoa writers, readers, publishers and their local community. They work closely with their Te Tiriti partners, Te Hā o Nga Pou to ensure equitable opportunities for kaituhui Māori and kaipānui Māori and partner with programmers from across Aotearoa to ensure that our offerings are diverse, and carefully calibrated for a multiplicity of voices.

To apply, visit  www.moniackmhor.org.uk

www.verbwellington.nz