Tukums UNESCO City of Literature Writer-in-Residence Programme

Tukums UNESCO City of Literature invites applications for its Writer-in-Residence programme at Jaunpils Writers’ Castle, offering a unique opportunity for writers to live and work in a historic medieval castle in Latvia during October 2026.

About the Residency

The “Jaunpils Rakstnieku pils” (Jaunpils Writers’ Castle) residency is located in the Jaunpils village, in the Tukums region — the third-largest administrative region in Latvia. The village, home to around 800 inhabitants, is 30 km from Tukums and 22 km from the town Dobele.

The residency is housed in a well-preserved medieval castle, originally built in 1301 by the Livonian Order and celebrating its 725th anniversary in 2026. Set within a landscape of parkland, lakes, and heritage trails, the castle is where the Enlightenment thinker and writer Eliza von der Recke (1754–1833) began her literary career.

Residents will stay in a private, fully equipped apartment in the castle’s quiet east wing and also have access to a library and a special lunch offer in the castle’s medieval pub.

What is Offered

• A 2–4 week residency in October 2026 at Jaunpils Writers’ Castle
• A scholarship of €800 (four weeks) or €400 (two weeks)
• Transport to and from Riga International Airport
• A dedicated coordinator to support accommodation, events and connections
• Opportunities to participate in readings, festivals and local literary life
• An immersive experience of Latvia’s literary and cultural landscape

Residents may also avail of a daily lunch at the castle’s medieval tavern for approximately €5 per meal.

Residency Dates

• Four-week residency: 1–28 October 2026
• Two-week residencies:
  • 1–15 October 2026
  • 17–31 October 2026

Accommodation

Residents are accommodated in a spacious apartment equipped with:

• A dedicated writing desk and workspace
• A fully equipped kitchen
• A private bathroom
• High-speed internet
• Access to shared office facilities (printer and photocopier).

Who Can Apply

The residency is open to writers, poets, playwrights, and screenwriters who:

• Live or work in a UNESCO City of Literature
• Have at least two traditionally published works (self-published works are not eligible)
• Are working on a current project (fiction, poetry, theatre or screenwriting)
• Demonstrate an interest in Latvian culture and literature
• Have upper-intermediate English (minimum B2) and/or basic Latvian (minimum A2)
• Are willing to actively engage in the local literary community through events and exchanges

How to Apply

Applications should include:

• A completed application form
• A short biography and list of published works
• A description of the project you plan to work on during the residency (up to 500 words).
• A writing sample: an excerpt of up to 5 pages from a published or forthcoming work (in English or Latvian, or with an English translation).
• Confirmation of your connection to a UNESCO City of Literature

The application deadline is 30 June 2026, with successful applicants notified in early August 2026.

About Tukums UNESCO City of Literature

Tukums is a charming town of approximately 18,000 inhabitants located around 65 km west of Riga, the capital of Latvia, and just 15 km from the Baltic Sea coast. In 2023, it was designated a UNESCO City of Literature — a recognition that reflects centuries of genuine literary tradition rather than a recent ambition.

The region is widely regarded as the birthplace of original Latvian literature. The town currently boasts the highest concentration of active writers per 1,000 inhabitants in the entire country and is home to the second most significant art collection in Latvia. Literature in Tukums extends far beyond libraries and bookshops. Fairy tales, myths, legends and local stories have been woven into parks, forests and the very fabric of the urban environment.