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

Tartu is the second largest town of Estonia but is widely considered its intellectual capital – vitally significant in developing the educational system, culture, science and literature in the Estonian language. Tartu City of Literature residency programme aims to increase international exchange and communication, contribute to the mobility of writers and translators, offer a creative and inspiring environment, and provide writers an opportunity to introduce their work to Estonian readers. The programme is open to all writers and translators (translating from Estonian to other languages) from across the world. The residency programme is coordinated by the Estonian Literary Society in cooperation with Tartu Department of the Estonian Writers Union and in partnership with various other literary institutions.

This call is for a 2-month residency period November-December 2024. One applicant will be selected.

What we offer:

• 2-month stay at the Karl Ristikivi residency apartment
• A scholarship of 600 euros per month
• Compensation of travel costs to and from Tartu up to 350 euros
• An opportunity to get engaged in the cultural scene of Tartu and to perform at different events, the interdisciplinary festival Crazy Tartu taking place from November 7th to 9th 2024.
• A contact person who is responsible for planning performances, meetings and tours and helps to engage in the local literary life

How to apply:

• For more information and to fill in the online application form. Available HERE
• Please upload a fragment (up to 5 pages) of a published text (in Estonian or English) or a fragment of a published translation (from Estonian into another language) in the respective section of the form.

Criteria

• Upper intermediate level of spoken English.
• At least one published book (fiction or non-fiction), screenplay, theatre script or translation from Estonian into another language by the applicant.
• Interest in Estonian culture and literature.
• Readiness to participate in the local literary life, including events, meetings, interviews, and festivals.
• Literary work during the residency.
NB! We are looking for writers and translators who are currently not residents of Estonia.

The deadline for applications is September 25th. The results will be announced by October 4th at the latest.

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UNESCO cities of literature attend 16th UNESCO Creative Cities Network Meeting in Braga, Portugal, 1 to 5 July 2024

From 1 to 5 July, 35 UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature attended a meeting for the UNESCO Creative Cities to share ideas, best practices and celebrate the importance of creativity in sustainable urban development across the network.
During the conference Cities of Literature Mayors co-signed the Braga Manifesto: A Culture Goal for Sustainable Development. This pivotal text outlines local-level commitment from Creative Cities implementing the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration and solidifies a shared vision of integrating culture as a standalone goal in the post-2030 Sustainable Development agenda.

Cities of Literature had a strong involvement in the creative programme of the conference, as well as shaping the cultural policy at an international level. Each City of Literature donated a children’s book to a mobile children’s library that travelled around Braga during the week of the conference giving readings and performances of the books to young people in the local community.
Young writers at home in Cities of Literature also engaged with the conference creative programme via the Letters to the Future project, sharing their own hopes and wishes with international cultural leaders. A letter from Éire Ní Fhaoláin, a young Irish writer was displayed in English & Portuguese. READ HERE

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To all writers from our sister UNESCO Cities of Literature – we are inviting you to put yourself forward to be one of our virtual writers in residence in November this year.

From poets to playwrights, this is an opportunity to get to know Melbourne’s vibrant and varied literary community up close by spending November working with one of the many organisations that make us a City of Literature:

Below is the list of hosts that we have and the simple point of inspiration they are looking for!

Boroondara Libraries is looking for a writer to connect with a passionate literary community and explore a sense of place and local history from a fresh creative perspective. https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/services/libraries   

F Project is looking for a writer who exhibits the kind of quirky fun that makes life worth living and who will nurture the experimentation and creativity at the centre of our community. https://www.thefproject.org.au/

Kingston Libraries Home is seeking an author to connect our diverse multicultural community with the world. https://library.kingston.vic.gov.au/

Melbourne Writers’ Theatre  is looking for an experienced playwright to share their knowledge, their culture, and perhaps their latest play with our community of enthusiastic playwrights. https://melbournewriterstheatre.org.au/

Moorabool Shire Council – Moorabool Libraries seek a writer who is passionate about short stories, who can engage, inspire and guide writers of all ages, to foster a vibrant literary community in Moorabool. www.moorabool.vic.gov.au

Myli-My Community Library  is seeking engaging, passionate writer who is highly enthusiastic about working across a variety of age groups and genres. www.myli.org.au

Society Women Writers Victoria  https://www.swwvic.org.au/   is seeking a female writer to help us explore different short forms of writing to expand our members’ expertise and interest.

Whitehorse Manningham Libraries are seeking a writer who can engage our community and harness the power of literature to foster connections among diverse groups. www.wml.vic.gov.au

This content will be any three of the following (or three of just one of the following)

• a workshop
• a written piece
• an appearance/ panel
• a social media takeover

The residency will also include opportunities for meetings with all the writers in residence and facilitated further connections with Melbourne as a City of Literature

As one of our virtual writers in residence you will be paid $1500(AUD) and you will retain all copyright for your work.

To be eligible you need to be a writer and resident presently in one of the UNESCO Cities of Literature

APPLICATIONS

Follow this link https://cityofliterature.wufoo.com/forms/xgb29n30x6zf8q/  express your interest in being a virtual writer in residence. You will be asked to nominate your choice of organisation and what you would love to do for and with them! We strongly suggest you have a look at all organisations and think of your interactions before starting this form.

They are looking to be excited and inspired by your thoughts and the possibility of connecting with you!

Deadline for submissions: 11.59pm Monday 2 Sept AET.

We invite you to explore all of our hosts online but if you have any specific questions to ask the City of Literature office

Prague City of Literature offers an opportunity to writers and translators to live and work in the Prague city centre. 

This call goes for eight two-month residencies in 2025 which will be held in:

January–February
March–April
May–June
July – August
September – October
November – 15th December

Applicants need at least one published literary work (not a private edition), two broadcasts, published radio dramas, one carried out or published theatre play, or at least one translated work of a Czech author.
The accommodation and travel expenses are covered by Prague City of Literature.

Required documents:
Completed application form
optional: Extract from a published text (in Czech or in English) or sample of a translated text into Czech; max 2 pages
Selection criteria:
Knowledge of English language
At least one published literary work (not a private edition) or two broadcast or published radio dramas or one carried out or published theatre play or at least one translated work of a Czech author
Willingness to participate in the local literary life (author readings, meeting students, talks, activities arranged by the receiving institution or connected to the cultural events of the city)
Working on the writings during the stay
Cultural interest for the location
The author who has already once received the scholarship can’t apply again
The Resident agrees that during their residential stay or no later than 2 months after its conclusion, they will provide the Municipal Library of Prague with a text inspired by their stay. The Municipal Library of Prague, through the project ‘Prague City of Literature’, will be authorized to use this text for promoting residential stays. A license agreement will be entered into between the Municipal Library of Prague and the Resident, allowing the use of the text in both electronic and printed formats.

Deadline for submissions: 20 August 2024

The results will be announced by October 31, 2024.

More Information

The 2024 National Poetry Competition is now open for entries.

The competition, run by The Poetry Society, (poetrysociety.org.uk) is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem.

Work from poets at every stage of their writing careers is welcome, and the judges read all entries via an anonymised judging process, only discovering the identity of the winner after making their final decision. The competition has recognised previously unpublished newcomers, established names, and emerging talents.

The National Poetry Competition offers to winners a first prize of £5,000, a second prize of £2,000, a third prize of £1,000 and commendations of £500 each. The top three winners are also published in The Poetry Society’s journal The Poetry Review.

Submission deadline:  31st October

Judges
This year’s judges are Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature Romalyn Ante, Associate Publisher at Carcanet Press John McAuliffe and Forward Prize for Best First Collection winner Stephen Sexton.

For more information 

Dublin City Council announces Solenoid, by Mircea Cărtărescu and  translated by Sean Cotter as winner of the
2024 Dublin Literary Award

Thursday 23rd May 2024: Romanian author Mircea Cărtărescu and American translator Sean Cotter have been announced today as winners of the 2024 Dublin Literary Award, sponsored by Dublin City Council, for the novel Solenoid (published by Deep Vellum). The Award is the world’s largest prize for a single novel published in English.
Uniquely, the Award receives its nominations from public libraries around the world and recognises both writers and translators. Author Mircea Cărtărescu receives €75,000 and Sean Cotter, as translator, receives €25,000. Solenoid is the 12th novel in translation to win the Dublin Literary Award.
The winning title was announced today at a special event, at International Literature Festival Dublin, which runs until 26th May. Lord Mayor and Patron of the Award, Daithí de Róiste made the announcement and Dublin City Librarian, Mairead Owens presented the prizes to the winning author and translator at the International Literature Festival Dublin Literary Village in Merrion Square Park.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste said “Solenoid illustrates the elasticity of human imagination where the reader is invited on a fantastical ride with a nameless anti-hero in Bucharest. Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter deserve to win the Dublin Literary Award for this surreal masterpiece in the 21st century.
I’d like to congratulate them both and thank everyone involved in the award – writers, translators, librarians, publishers and the administrative staff of Dublin City Council.”
“I am delighted for the 2024 Dublin Literary Award winners. Solenoid, is the first novel translated from Romanian to win the award since its inception, 29 years ago,” said Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive, Dublin City Council. “This international award from a UNESCO City of literature, shows the commitment Dublin City Council and its libraries have to uniting readers and story makers across the world.”
Nominated by ”Octavian Goga” Cluj County Library in Romania, the winning novel was chosen from a shortlist of six novels by writers from Canada, Ireland, Australia and the United States.
The longlist of 70 titles was nominated by 80 libraries from 35 countries.
Winner Mircea Cărtărescu commented that “Winning the Dublin Literary Award is one of the most significant achievements in my whole literary career, and a great honour for me. It shows an increase in my image as a writer in the English-speaking world after the publication of Solenoid, my breakthrough novel. I am grateful to the jury who chose my book from so many other wonderful ones.”

American translator, Sean Cotter said “The Dublin Literary Award awards translators alongside authors, a choice as unusual as it is necessary. I am honored to be recognized with as great an author as Mircea, from as great a literature as the Romanian, and I hold in my heart the community of Romanian translators, all those who translate the world’s smaller literatures, all those who translate.”
Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter will appear at the International Literature Festival Dublin, for an in-depth conversation about the novel, with Alex Clark, tomorrow evening (Friday 24th May) at 6pm in Merrion Square Park (Synge stage).

Copies of the winning title are available to borrow from Dublin City Libraries and from public libraries throughout Ireland. Readers can also borrow the winning novel on BorrowBox in eBook format. Further details about the Award and the winning novel are available on the Award website at www.dublinliteraryaward.ie 

The 2024 Judging Panel, led by Professor Chris Morash of Trinity College Dublin, and includes Ingunn Snædal, Daniel Medin, Lucy Collins, Anton Hur and Irenosen Okojie, commented:
“By turns wildly inventive, philosophical, and lyrical, with passages of great beauty, Solenoid is the work of a major European writer who is still relatively little known to English-language readers. Sean Cotter’s translation of the novel sets out to change that situation, capturing the lyrical precision of the original, thereby opening up Cărtărescu’s work to an entirely new readership.”

Watch the Dublin Literary Award 2024 Winner Announcements Highlights

Watch  Dublin Literary Award Winners Mircea Cărtărescu and Sean Cotter In Conversation

Mircea Cărtărescu is a writer, professor, and journalist who has published more than twenty-five books. His work has received the Formentor Prize (2018), the Thomas Mann Prize (2018), the Austrian State Prize for Literature (2015), and the Vilenica Prize (2011), among many others. His work has been translated in twenty-three languages. His novel Blinding was published by Archipelago in Sean Cotter’s English translation.

Sean Cotter is a translator and professor of literature and translation at the University of Texas at Dallas. A previous National Endowment for the Arts Translation Fellow, Cotter is the translator of 11 books, including T.O. Bobe’s Curl and Nichita Stănescu’s Wheel with a Single Spoke and Other Poems, which was awarded the Best Translated Book Award for Poetry. His translation of Magda Cârneci’s FEM, a finalist for the PEN Translation Award, was published by Deep Vellum in 2021.

About Solenoid, by Mircea Cărtărescu
Based on Cărtărescu’s own role as a high school teacher, Solenoid begins with the mundane details of a diarist’s life and quickly spirals into a philosophical account of life, history, philosophy, and mathematics. On a broad scale, the novel’s investigations of other universes, dimensions, and timelines reconcile the realms of life and art.

The novel is grounded in the reality of late 1970s/early 1980s Communist Romania, including long lines for groceries, the absurdities of the education system, and the misery of family life.

Combining fiction with autobiography and history, Solenoid ruminates on the exchanges possible between the alternate dimensions of life and art within the Communist present.

Dublin City Council is delighted to announce that Snowflake by Louise Nealon is the One Dublin One Book choice for 2024, following on from The Coroner’s Daughter by Andrew Hughes in 2023.

One Dublin One Book aims to encourage everyone in Dublin to read a designated book connected with the capital city during the month of April every year. This annual project is a Dublin City Council initiative, led by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, which encourages reading for pleasure. Announcing the choice, Dublin City Librarian, Mairead Owens, said:

“A debut novel, Snowflake from Louise Nealon is a tender story of a college student from the country adjusting to her new life in Dublin. Raw, yet affirming, this book will appeal to all readers as it explores life’s milestones, family, mental health and how we ultimately connect with others while facing big challenges. I am excited about reaching new audiences with this book and generating discussion among readers in the city and beyond next April.”   Continue reading