Literature Wales, the national company for the development of literature, has announced that the next round of Writers’ Bursaries are now open for submission.
The bursaries, which are funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Wales, enable writers of all genres and backgrounds to take time out to write. Since 2004, Literature Wales has awarded over £1 million in Writers’ Bursaries, supporting 244 writers, awarding 292 Bursaries and generating 111 books and 13 articles.
2016 Bursary recipient Rebecca F. John said: “The New Writer’s Bursary I was lucky enough to receive from Literature Wales has not only allowed me to delve into a story I so passionately want to present to my readers, it has also afforded me time to write, it has reassured me that I have something important to say, and that there is an audience out there who might want to listen. I feel very fortunate to belong to a country so keen to assist and celebrate its writers.”
The 2017 Literature Wales Bursaries are now open for applications from new and published writers resident in Wales. Applicants may apply for a New / Emerging Writer’s Bursary; a Published Writer’s Bursary; or a Support Fund Bursary. Support Fund Bursaries are available for writers with mobility problems or disabilities in need of specialist equipment and assistance.
In addition, Literature Wales’ Mentoring Service for Writers offers support and practical advice to writers, in the form of face-to-face meetings with professional writers, to develop specific work in progress to a publishable standard.
Literature Wales is delighted to announce the appointment of two new members to the Literature Wales Bursaries Panel. From September 2016, Sioned Williams will Chair the Bursaries Panel. A former journalist and producer with BBC Wales, Sioned is now Communications and Development Manager at Academi Hywel Teifi, Swansea University and has joint responsibility for managing Tŷ’r Gwrhyd, the Welsh Centre for the Swansea and Neath Valleys. Sioned is an established cultural commentator and arts critic.
Sioned Williams noted: “I care passionately about developing and supporting the two literatures of Wales, and I look forward to the responsibility and honour of ensuring that Wales’ most promising and talented writers have an opportunity to expand and push the literary boundaries of our culture.” We also welcome Catherine Phelps, a literary critic and editor, to the Bursaries Panel. She is an early stage researcher and has taught English Literature at Cardiff University and the University of South Wales.
Literature Wales Chief Executive, Lleucu Siencyn, said: “Supporting the writer at every stage of their career is fundamental to the work of Literature Wales. We are pleased to note that the Bursaries and Mentoring Service will again this year be generously supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Wales. The Writers’ Bursaries will enable many new and emerging writers, as well as more established literary figures, to produce exceptional new literary work in Welsh and English.”
The closing date for 2017 applications for Bursaries and Mentoring is 5.00 pm on Friday 28 October 2016.
The guidelines and application forms for the 2017 Literature Wales Writers’ Bursaries and 2017 Mentoring are available to download from the Literature Wales website.
