Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature is offering a free one month residency for a writer from another UNESCO City of Literature in September 2022.

WHAT?
Reykjavík, a UNESCO City of Literature since 2011, offers a one month residency for a visiting writer from another UNESCO City of Literature. The offer is open to published fiction writers from, or affiliated with, any of the other 41 UNESCO Cities of Literature, writing in any genre.

WHEN?
The residency will be a one month stay for one month from September 1 – 30, 2022.

WHO?
Writers from or with strong ties to any of the 41 other UNESCO Cities of Literature can apply. The applicant must have published at least one work of fiction (poetry, prose, play or screenwriting). Writers of all ages, genders, nationalities and languages can apply as long as the affiliation with a UNESCO City of Literature is strong.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Travel cost, free lodging in Gröndal‘s House residence flat and a sum of 800 Euros. The flat is a one bedroom flat with a full kitchen located in the Reykjavík city centre close to cultural venues and main city attractions. The living/dining area can also be used as a work space. The guest will be responsible for meals and other day to day needs. Medical coverage is not included and therefore the guest should have medical insurance/coverage of their own. The Reykjavík City of Literature staff will be of help in connecting the guest with the local literary community and other relevant parties related to literary work. Presentation of literary works will also be possible, be it by an open event, media presentation or other channels and the guest should be able and willing to take part in the literary life of the city.
The offer is meant for the writer only.

REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must use this month in Reykjavík for literary work and have an interest in getting to know Reykjavík and Iceland and its culture and literature. Whereas the hosts do not make any restrictions on the nature or content of the work being written during the stay, they do ask that the author writes a short text (1-2 A4 pages; prose, reflection, poem etc.) about Reykjavík and/or the stay or the author‘s home city‘s ties to Reykjavík or Icelandic literature. The piece may be translated to Icelandic and used by the Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature, on the programme‘s website, social media channels and/or in a publication dedicated to the residency in the future without further compensation. Proficiency in English is required.

ABOUT REYKJAVÍK AND GRÖNDAL‘S HOUSE
Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland and its cultural centre. Inhabitants in the capital area are around 230.000. Icelandic is the language of the island but most people are also fluent in English. Reykjavík has been a UNESCO City of Literature since 2011 and has a vibrant literary community. Gröndal‘s House is the former home of writer, illustrator and scholar Benedikt Gröndal (1826-1907). This small, charming house in the heart of the old town opened as a culture house and residency in 2017. It houses the flat on the ground floor, an exhibition and event space on the main floor and an office space for local artists on the top floor. The house is run by the Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature office.

See further here on our website

APPLICATION AND DEADLINE
Please send your application to bokmenntaborgin@reykjavik.is before March 1st 2022.

It should contain:

Name
Address and contact email
Nationality
Date of birth
Connection to a UNESCO City of Literature
CV of published works and relevant career
Brief description of project that you plan to work on in Reykjavík
You may send a sample of written work if available in Icelandic, English, Danish, Swedish or Norwegian although not required.

If you need further information, please write to us at the same address: bokmenntaborgin@reykjavik.is. For any more info and to read about previous writers in residence, head to this page.