Part of the EU cooperation project Reading Balkans, the ‘Reading Balkans 2021’ literary residency programme is inviting applications from fiction writers, poets, essayists, playwrights, screenplay writers and comic book writers from Southeast Europe (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia).
The programme pays particular attention to writers who are innovative, and who deal with contemporary themes and topics in their work. The central themes for the project, which the work of applicants should reflect, is migration, language exile, reconciliation, the role of culture, and the importance of dialogue to fight nationalism and intolerance.
For 2021, the call will select 19 authors. The duration of each residency will be 4 weeks. All residencies will be arranged between 1 March and 30 September 2021.
Residencies take place at:
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Publishing House Goga, Slovenia (Novo mesto).
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Krokodil, Serbia (Beograd).
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Goten Publishing, North Macedonia (Skopje).
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Udruga Kurs, Croatia (Split).
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Poeteka, Albania (Tirana).
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Qendra Multimedia, Kosovo (Prishtina).
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PEN BIH, Bosnia and Hercegovina (Sarajevo).
The fellowship for the writers will include:
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A 4-week stay in an apartment.
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Travel costs (up to 150 eur).
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A grant of 1000 euro gross (approx. 750 net).
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A literary event with the author in the country where the residency will be held
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A translation of one text to be presented at the event (into the language of the hosting residency) and a translation of one text into English to be included in the mobile app and to be used in promotional purposes.
