The Raising Voices Fellowship is inviting aspiring writers and/or illustrators who make work for children and young adults to apply for their fully-funded, career-altering programme commencing in January 2025. The Raising Voices Fellowship will run until November 2025 and at least four Fellows will be selected to take part. Previously rolled out in 2022 and encompassing a host of creative and practical supports, the selected Fellows will be connected to a welcoming community and supported in developing their careers.
The Fellowship is led by a group of literature organisations including Children’s Books Ireland, Illustrators Ireland, Publishing Ireland, the Dublin Book Festival and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig. Raising Voices aims to break down barriers to publication and progression, and to increase diversity and representation in the Irish literature sector for those whose voices have been underrepresented due to background or identity. Children’s Books Ireland is the lead organisation and will be the main point of contact.
Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland commented on the Raising Voices Fellowship:
‘After the success of our Raising Voices pilot in 2022, we are energised and motivated to continue making positive change in Irish children’s books. Publishing is changing, but we must continue to provide the supports and springboards that will help artists from underrepresented and minority backgrounds towards publication and progression through their careers. We are thrilled that Raising Voices will run again in 2025 and look forward to supporting our new Fellows in any way we can, with the help and expertise of our partners.’
The creative and practical supports included in the Fellowship programme are as follows:
• Mentorship with an experienced writer or illustrator
• A detailed critique from an editor/art director suited to the Fellow’s practice
• A week-long residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig
• A showcase event as part of Dublin Book Festival to mark the end point of the project
• Access to a bespoke speaker series, bursary information clinic with the Arts Council, and various events and courses
• Professional photography providing Fellows with head shots for publicity purposes as they continue their publishing journeys
• Opportunities to connect and network with the community at Children’s Books Ireland’s artist coffee mornings and other social events
• Ongoing connections with the partner organisations
• Tools, information and guidance needed to finalise a manuscript or dummy, prepare work for submission, research the market, and apply for bursaries.
Entry requirements
The programme is designed for writers and illustrators that:
• Make work for children and young people including fiction, non-fiction and poetry
• Work in English or as Gaeilge
• Have a complete manuscript, picturebook or illustrated book outline
• Come from backgrounds or communities that are marginalised or underrepresented in children’s and young adult literature
• Have not yet been published or secured a contract with a publisher or agent
• Live permanently in Ireland or Northern Ireland
Rather than list strict and exhaustive criteria, the Raising Voices fellowship is asking writers and illustrators who apply to self-identify as ‘underrepresented’. More information can be found here.
At least four Fellows will be selected, by representatives from the five partner organisations and three external readers (published artists or industry experts who come from underrepresented communities). As Fellows may face financial barriers, the initiative is fully funded, and all mentoring and supports received will be free of charge.
The Raising Voices Fellowship commences in January 2025 and will run until November 2025.
The application deadline is Thursday, 14th November 2024 at 3pm.
Application forms: AS GAEILGE ENGLISH