The Sylt Foundation calls all writers of contemporary African literature to apply for the two months African Writer´s Award, offered as part of the Sylt Foundation Residency Programme.
The African Writer´s Residency is awarded annually and offers an Award of a two months residency to writers of African literature, whose work engages with contemporary themes related to Africa and the African diaspora. The Award is open to published (not self-published) writers of poetry, prose, plays and novels by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language or translated into the English language.
The winner will be selected by an experienced and credible selection panel of literary professionals.
The contemporary African writer who wins the award is expected to work on or complete a writing project he/she proposed in her/his application. The residency aims to provide an opportunity for the writer to develop ideas and to do research related to the project.
Call for Applications for Residency:
The Goethe-Institute and the Sylt Foundation call all writers of contemporary African literature to apply for the two months African Writer´s Residency Award, offered as part of the Sylt Foundation Residency Programme.
The AWRA Award will be awarded annually. African authors published in the French language will be addressed next year.
The Sylt Foundation´s residency space is located on the island of Sylt, off the coast of Hamburg, Germany. The flat landscape, bordered by water on all sides has an overarching endless sky. The wind and the special quality of light fascinated for centuries scientist and artists alike. For creative people it provides today, as it did in the past, a quiet space conducive to reflection and contemplation. Today the small towns and villages on Sylt offer relaxation in the summer months for German holidaymakers who enjoy the water sports, bathing in the choppy North Sea, cycling and hiking along the many dedicated paths which crisscross the landscape. In winter the island is a secluded space with limited infrastructure. A variety of small restaurants, B&B’s and holiday homes built in a unique Sylt style, give the island its distinctive atmosphere.
The Foundation has an established residency programme which offers opportunities to international visual artists, writers and composers. It is a quiet space off the urban hustle and offers time for contemplation and reflection. Following on the success of many years of engagement with contemporary African literature and writers, the Goethe-Institute and the Sylt Foundation have sought to leverage its residency programme by inviting applications from African writers who through a juried selection process will be awarded this invaluable opportunity. The
winner will be selected by an experienced and credible selection panel of literary professionals.
This Goethe-Institute & Sylt Foundation AWRA will provide the writer with:
– an opportunity to initiate or complete a project in progress
– a quiet space suitable for contemplation and research
– an uninterrupted period of writing
– a means to leverage their artistic profile
– an opportunity to engage with other international writers and artists
The African writer who wins the award is expected to work on or complete a writing project he/she proposed in her/his application. The residency aims to provide an opportunity for the writer to develop ideas and to do research related to the project. The winner is supposed to name the Goethe-Institute and the Sylt Foundation when the project is finished in the publication. He/She is also asked to use the Sylt Foundation´s website and social media once in a while to share reflections and progress of the work. After completion of the residency, a reading in one of the African Goethe-Institute and/or talks to students of German as a foreign language is highly encouraged. The Goethe-Institut and Sylt Foundation African Writers´Residency Award offers as follows:
– a two-month´s stay in a comfortable two-roomed flat on the island of Sylt, a
stipend of 1.500 Euro
– return travel costs from home town to Sylt (economy)
– visa fees
Please note that it is mandatory to stay for the entire period. The stay cannot be
split or shortened
Application requirements
Writers of African literature are invited to submit their application which has to include:
– A project proposal of the project the applicant wishes to work on while in
residence. This can be a current or proposed literary project.
– A synopsis of the novel, play, poetry or other literary project envisioned
– Copy of a valid passport conforming Schengen visa requirements.
– Full Curriculum Vitae.
– Writer´s profile in English – appr. 500 words.
– One (1) letter of reference in English from literary professionals, publishers or
academics.
– A portrait photo (with cleared copyright) to use on the websites and in social
media.
– Excerpt (stating the publishers and not more than 10 pages) from a published
book, volume of poetry, a (publicly staged) play with information as to where
and when it was staged
Note: Digital applications in MS Word or PDF documents only (no hard copy
proposals accepted)
(the copyright of all published material will be respected by the Sylt Foundation so
digital copies of published books may be submitted and will be handled with due care.
Material submitted will not be returned to the applicant)
The Selection Procedure:
Selection will be done by a jury convened by the Goethe-Institut and the Sylt Foundation and will comprise of literary experts. The names of the jury members and their profiles will be made public via the Sylt Foundation´s website.
One winner will be selected and will b the recipient of the Goethe-Institut & Sylt Foundation African Writer´s Residency Award (AWRA) each year.
Previous winners were Chika Unigwe (Nigeria) in 2013, Nii Parkes (GB/Ghana) in 2014,
Mildred Barya (Uganda) in 2015..
Key dates for the 2016 African Writer´s Residency Award:
– The call for application will go out 15th April 2016
– Deadline for application submission is 6 pm (CET), Thursday, 30th June 2016
– Announcement of the Residency Award winner, 15th August 2016
– Residency to be taken anytime from November 2016 – October 2017
No late applications will be considered. Applications will be kept confidential.
Only the winner will be informed. If you have not heard from us by 15th August., please
consider your application unsuccessful.
For additional information:
www.syltfoundation.com
Submit e-mail entries and direct enquiries to:
Sylt Foundation
e-mail: [email protected]
Enquieries: +27-76-501 42 91 (Monday to Friday, 10-4 pm (CET))
Media enquiries and information via:
Agentur Hanne Knickmann
Tel. +49 (0)6221 67342-50
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/SyltFoundationResidencyProgramme