Seamus Heaney – Czesław Miłosz Writer in Residence Programme

The Estate of Seamus Heaney, together with the Kraków City authorities, Kraków UNESCO City of Literature and the Embassy of Ireland in Poland, are pleased to launch an open call for the third edition of the Heaney-Miłosz Residency Programme at the apartment adjacent to former home of Polish poet and writer Czesław Miłosz in Kraków, Poland.

Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980, Czesław Miłosz is one of Poland’s most renowned writers. Described by Seamus Heaney as a “veteran of turmoil”, Miłosz experienced first-hand the devastation of war and occupation in Central and Eastern Poland. These experiences, as indeed his Polish-Lithuanian heritage, vividly shaped his writing. 

Czesław Miłosz resided at his apartment in his adopted home city of Kraków, Poland, for the last decade of his life. There, he and Seamus Heaney – both Nobel Laureates – cemented their friendship. Their respective works were shaped by experiences of conflict and adversity, but also underpinned by a shared commitment to human dignity and rights, while celebrating the plurality of identity

About the Residency 

The Seamus Heaney – Czesław Miłosz Residency aims to support emerging writers, resident in Ireland, to further develop their work. For the first time, the Residency is now open to applications from Irish citizens living abroad. The principal aim of the Residency is to support an emerging writer with both the creative space and time to focus on their writing. It is intended that the Residency will also provide the basis for deepening further the many literary links between Ireland and Poland. The selected Residency writer will be based at the apartment adjacent to former home of Czesław Miłosz in Kraków city centre for a period of four to six weeks in either summer or autumn 2027. The resident will also have the opportunity to visit Miłosz’s apartment. 

What's Included

• Full accommodation in Kraków for the period of the Residency
• A weekly stipend of 250 euro  
• Flights, up to the equivalent of return flights from Ireland, and transfer costs to and from Kraków will also be covered.

Resident Commitments

• A limited number of public engagements in Krakow. This may include talks at Festival events, engagements with academia and young writers, and/or engagement with the local community.
• A written reflection of their experiences in Kraków and/or Poland. This reflection may be used for publication/promotional purposes.

Applicant Criteria

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Be resident on the island of Ireland or be an Irish citizen living abroad.
• Provide evidence of previous publication in Ireland or internationally.

The following would also be considered desirable for applicants:

• Good knowledge of and/or interest in Poland or Central Europe more broadly.

How to Apply

Applications should include: 

• An application form including a proposal or draft of writing already begun that they wish to develop during the Residency;
• A detailed CV, setting out writing achievements to date and including details of any previous residencies or writing fellowships received.

Queries may be sent to Marcelina Karcz -  marcelina.karcz@kbf.krakow.p