The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown is inviting proposals from writers who are citizens of and live in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines who would like to apply to participate in the 10-week International Writer’s Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa’s prestigious international residency program.
The IWP is tentatively scheduled for Iowa City from Aug. 23 to Nov. 11, 2014.
Interested writers should send a curriculum vitae and a 10- to 15-page writing sample to [email protected] by March 27, 2014.
No applications will be accepted after this deadline, the embassy said in a release.
IWP programme is designed for established and emerging creative writers in any genre including fiction, poetry, dramatists, screen writers are eligible for nomination. Literary translators and writers of creative non-fiction, such as feature journalism, cultural commentary, biography, etc. are also eligible to apply.
Applicants must have published at least one book, or their works have appeared in significant publications over the past two years.
For writers to benefit fully from this residency, they will need to have the flexibility in their schedules to spend 10 weeks in the United States, the embassy further said.
All applicants must be fluent in English (spoken and written), comfortable with cross-cultural dynamics, and interested in close interaction with other artists from a multiplicity of diverse cultures.
IWP provides a unique inter-cultural experience for established writers who have achieved literary distinction in their own countries, as well as for rising stars who have demonstrated literary talent, broad appeal and/or an interest in contributing to the creative writing culture in their home countries.
The IWP brings together a wide range of international and U.S. writers to examine current trends in literature including fiction, drama, poetry, and screenwriting to explore the creative process involved in writing in a unique U.S. environment. The international writers will spend 10 weeks in residence at the University of Iowa in Iowa City presenting their work to local audiences, working with translators, and participating in university level classes and workshops. This aspect of the program will help these participants bring their countries’ literary works to a wider audience and learn more about U.S. literature. The 2011 program will feature increased opportunities for writers to participate in optional collaborative projects with artists from other disciplines including theater and dance. The residency will also include field trips to attend literary events. Further details about the program are available on the IWP website http://iwp.uiowa.edu/.
Successful applicants will receive funding that will cover the costs of the writer participating in cultural exchange activities in the fields of writing, translation, and collaboration with artists from other artistic disciplines.
Due to housing limitations at the University of Iowa, and the intense nature of this residency, family members are not permitted to accompany the writer(s) for the duration of the residency.
Further information: email [email protected]