Writing residency in Italy

Call for applications

It is with great pleasure that the Espace de la diversité (EDLD) announces the 2nd edition of the residency program for writers in partnership with the Dentro la Terra residence, located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Thanks to this initiative, two writers will be hosted at Dentro la Terra in September 2023.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on April 15.

This second edition of the EDLD-Dentro La Terra residencies has been made possible thanks to the support of the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM).

EDLD-Dentro La Terra residence objectives

• To support writers from diverse backgrounds and marginalized communities and groups (racialized, Afro-descendant, aboriginal, LGBTQ+ writers) by providing them with an inspiring creative space, as well as the conditions and means to write in complete freedom.
• To offer these writers, who are often confronted with exclusion, alienation, precariousness and uprootedness, the opportunity to create human links, discover other ways of life, and engage in fruitful conversations and exchanges with artists and communities who have other histories, imaginations and visions of the world.
• To root writing and creation in a healthier relationship with the earth.

Who is this residence for?

• Published/professional/beginner writers based in Quebec.
• Priority will be given to writers from marginalized and diverse backgrounds, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers.
• Literary genres: novel, poetry, slam / spoken word, narrative, storytelling.
• Writing language(s): French, English. Projects in other languages are eligible, but applications must be submitted in English or French.
• Applicants must be EDLD members. You can register here (it’s free!) – https://espacedeladiversite.wixsite.com/website/impliquez-vous
• Full-time EDLD employees and board members are not eligible to apply for the residency. However, freelancers who have worked or are currently working with EDLD may apply.

Before applying, please read the following conditions and criteria carefully.

Support:

• The residency covers travel expenses (airfare to and from the airport in Italy), living expenses (accommodation and meals) and travel insurance for the duration of the residency (30 days).
• An honorarium of $2,000 will also be paid to each writer.

Facilities:

• Residents are provided with a comfortable apartment and workspace.
• The residency takes place in a rural environment, and writers in residence who wish to leave the village must pay for local transport (bus, car rental).
• Residencies are open to applications from writers with reduced mobility or accessibility needs. However, the accommodation and writing space are in an old building with stairs. We are currently carrying out an accessibility audit of the site.
• The residency is open to applicants with children or family responsibilities, but EDLD does not cover the costs of family members or persons other than the writer.
• Italian is not required. However, the residence is located in an area where Italian is spoken exclusively. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the language before your trip (podcasts, youtube, language learning books) and prepare to live in this environment for several weeks.

Dates and duration:

• The residencies will take place from the second week of September to the second week of October 2023. These dates are fixed and writers must be able to settle in for the duration of the residency.
• Shortlisted candidates must be available for interview.

Candidate status:

• Canadian citizenship/permanent residency is not required, but candidates must reside in Quebec for at least six months of the year.
• Candidates must have, or be able to obtain at their own expense, the necessary papers to travel to Italy (passport, visa (if applicable), up-to-date vaccination).
• Candidates must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

Professionalism:

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• have published at least 1 book with a recognized publishing house in Quebec or elsewhere;
• have published at least 40 pages of fiction, poetry or non-fiction (columns are eligible) in recognized magazines, dailies or webzines in Quebec or elsewhere;
• have professionally produced at least 30 minutes of radio, film, television, theater or multimedia;
• Storytellers and slammers must have presented at least one full-length solo show, or have had at least three paid professional engagements;
• Personal blogs and self-published works are not eligible.

Residency activities:

• Writing: Most of the time will be devoted to writing. Authors will have full autonomy to work on their projects without constraints. Authors should be comfortable working alone in a very quiet environment.
• Dialogue: In the spirit of intercultural dialogue and exchange, writers may be invited by Dentro la terra to meet villagers and take part in activities (workshops/readings/meetings with local authors, etc.) during the residency.
• Environment and community: Writers will take part in an activity during the harvest season (helping with the harvest, planting trees), echoing Dentro la Terra’s ecological mission to revitalize the local environment and offset some of the environmental impact of the trip.
• Sharing: Writers will share their experience through four messages/postings on EDLD social media during their residency: these may be photographs, journal entries or creative contributions.

How to apply:

To submit an application, please submit your file as a SINGLE PDF file to candidatures@espacedeladiversite.org by 5 p.m. on April 15, 2023.

Please include your first name, last name and “Application Dentro La Terra 2023” in the title of the document.

The file must include the following documents:

• Presentation (300 words max.) and CV (1 page) summarizing your background, your approach to writing, your achievements and your goals for the future;
• Description of your writing project (500 words max.): what do you hope to work on during the residency, and what stage are you at in your project: research, start of a project, continuation of an existing project, finalization, etc.?
• The reasons why the residency will benefit you at this particular time (300 words maximum);
• Explain how you intend to give back to the village of Arielli, where the residency is located, in a perspective of listening, sharing and decentering (300 words maximum).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short interview with the jury during the week of Monday May 1 to Friday May 5.