One residency will be awarded annually to an African writer who has published (not self-published) literary works of either poetry, prose, plays and novels. African literature refers to literature of and from Africa.
The foundation is located on the island of Sylt, off the coast of Hamburg, Germany. The foundation has an established residency programme that offers opportunities to South African and international visual artists, writers and photographers. It is managed under the directorship of literary scholar and curator Indra Wussow.
This African Writer's Residency offers an award of a two-month 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 writers of poetry, prose, plays and novels by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language.
Following on the success of many years of engagement with contemporary African and South African literature and writers, the foundation has sought to leverage its residency programme by inviting applications from African writers who through a juried selection process, will be awarded this opportunity. The winner will be selected by an experienced and credible selection panel of literary professionals.
Previously, residents were individually invited onto this programme. In 2012, however, the residency procedures were formalised and published African writers are now invited to submit applications (as per the criteria) for selection onto the African Writers Residency Programme. One residency is awarded each year to one winning applicant who will take up the opportunity to enjoy creative writing time at the Foundation Kunst: Raum Sylt Quelle.
This period will provide the writer with:
While writers are managing career and personal demands, the vital process of conceptualising and reflection, researching and developing new ideas, so essential to the writing process, is often limited. A period of quiet uninterrupted time to focus on exploring ideas is critical to this process - often a challenge when balancing the pressures of everyday life.
The contemporary African writer who wins this award is expected to work on or complete the writing project he proposed in his application. The residency aims to provide an opportunity for the writer to develop ideas and to do research related to this project.
Writers of African literature are invited to submit:
Applications to include:
Plus an excerpt (stating the publishers) from:
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 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).
Selection will be by two separate panels, convened by the foundation and will comprise literary experts and the foundation's director, Indra Wussow (a literary scientist). Every year new panellists will be appointed. The names of the panellists and their profiles will be made public via the Sylt Foundation's website (www.kunstraum-syltquelle.de) and on Art Source South Africa's Facebook page.
The initial selection panel will evaluate all the applications received and will shortlist five finalists. The second judging panel will review the five finalist's applications and projects.
One winner will be selected from the finalists and will be the recipient of the Sylt Foundation African Writer's Residency Award each year.
Art Source South Africa has been appointed organiser of the award and manages this residency programme. The organisers do not vote and have no influence on the selection and judging process.
Key dates:
No late applications will be considered. Applications will be kept confidential.
For more, go to www.artsourcesouthafrica.co.za or www.facebook.com/AfricanWritersResidency on Facebook.
