Hay Festival is inviting new applications for Hay Writers at Work, its professional development opportunity for Welsh writers, in partnership with Literature Wales, funded by Arts Council of Wales.
Writers at Work is a long-term professional development strategy to nurture Welsh talent writing in both languages. The project gives access to the unique gathering of the literary world and exploits the publishing and creative writing expertise on offer for the direct benefit of professional writers in Wales. The fully programmed week allows the selected writers to engage in the main Festival events, to attend masterclasses and workshops with publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists.
Applications are welcome from poets, fiction (all genres) and non-fiction writers in English and Welsh. Eligible applicants are Welsh writers (born, schooled, or currently living in Wales) who show a clear commitment to professional development via evidence of publication.
To apply, please send the following to haywritersatwork@literaturewales.org:
- a writer’s biography – including professional experience, publication/s and publishers (no more than 200 words).
- a statement outlining your commitment to professional development as a Welsh writer and how a place on the Writers at Work scheme will enhance this (no more than 200 words).
- a short outline of your current project or work in progress (no more than 200 words).
Applications should not exceed two double spaced sides. Closing date: 5.00 pm, Friday 22 March 2019
A Writers at Work Bursary will cover accommodation, travel from within Wales and subsistence on site. The festival site is fully accessible for wheelchair users and performance venues are fitted with induction loops. Guide dogs are permitted. All accommodation will be booked by Hay Festival, but participants must make their own travel arrangements; costs for travel will be reimbursed.
Tiffany Murray, Writers at Work coordinator, said: “Writers at Work is an unparalleled programme. Thanks to Arts Council Wales and Hay Festival we have our unique Hay M.F.A. Now a growing alumni of Writers at Work are putting contemporary Welsh literature firmly on the international map.”
Clare Potter, author and former Writers at Work participant, said: “Hay Festival Writers at Work is an invaluable professional development programme for new writers; an intense period of writing, critique, talks from editors, literary agents, and established writers who share insight into what’s required to take the next step.”
Now in its fourth year, participants to date have achieved a spread of award wins and shortlistings, including the International Dylan Thomas Prize, The New Welsh Writing Award, the Wasafiri New Writing Prize, Wales Media Award, Welsh Rising Star Award, and Creative Wales Award.
For full terms and conditions see here, and to find out more about the programme visit here.