Opportunity from the Exeter City of Literature

Exeter City of Literature is partnering with the Special Collections library at the University of Exeter to offer a writer from another UNESCO City of Literature the chance to produce a new piece of work and/or produce a public programme between September 2025-August 2026.

If you’re passionate about archives, storytelling, and bringing history to life through writing, this is your chance!
For writers at any stage of their career to explore the University of Exeter’s Special Collections Archive to inspire new creative works.

What they offer:

• £2,000 stipend to support your time and expenses
• £1,000 for travel and accommodation expenses
• Up to £500 for outreach and engagement activities
• A dedicated writing space for 1–2 days per week
• Specialist guidance from the expert Special Collections team
• Access to a vibrant network of university partners & professionals

Literary Works that can be developed during the residency include: short stories, poems, dramatic works, prose, graphic novels, and zines.

Outreach and engagement activities could include: An interactive workshop, a live reading of your work, an insightful lecture, or a performance piece that brings your project to life.

The stipends will be awarded annually, running September 2025 to August 2026. The timeline for working with the collections will be agreed upon between the stipend holder and Special Collections staff.

A 15 minute online advice panel is available for writers seeking additional information about the residency on 02/06/2025  from 11:00am-13:00pm (BST). To reserve your slot: Email libspc@exeter.ac.uk to book a time.