Professional Membership (Rolling Subscription)

About The Plan

The Irish Writers Centre’s initiative to better support and engage with writers who rely on writing as a source of income.

Professional Membership is our initiative to better support and engage with writers who rely on writing as a source of income. An IWC professional member is a writer who can confirm that they meet at least 3 of these criteria:

• Has a book published by a recognised publisher with an ISBN.
• Has participated in a published collection which was selected by a jury in which professional writers or recognised curators participated.
• Has had a full-length play or a feature film produced by a recognised theatre/film company or theatre venue.
• Has been commissioned by Government, local authority, museum or equivalent for creative writing.
• Has been awarded a bursary, residency, or has been grant-aided by the Arts Council/Arts Council of Northern Ireland or other recognised funding body.
• Has been awarded tax-exempt status by the Revenue Commissioners, or are on schedule D as a self-employed artist in Northern Ireland.
• Has been paid to participate in public events to read their own work or to speak about a literary work, or offering views in the capacity as a writer.
• Has experience as a facilitator/teacher of creative or non-fiction writing.
• Has won a literary award.
• Is a literature member of Aosdána.
• Degree or Diploma from a recognised third level college in a literature-related subject; we will take other comparable level qualifications into consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Professional members will be required to provide a CV, ISBN or other evidential material to support their application as a Professional Member for a minimum of 3 of the stated criteria.

Professional Membership Benefits

Professional Members receive all Associate Members benefits:

• 10% discount on our courses and events;
• Guaranteed free access to write using workspaces in our beautiful Georgian surroundings.
• Invitation to our Members’ Christmas Party;
• The opportunity to join or create your own writing group;
• Exclusive access to recorded information sessions for writers;
• Opportunity to stand as Members’ Nominee on the IWC Board;

AND

Exclusive Professional Membership benefits:

• Priority consideration for opportunities such as becoming an IWC course/workshop facilitator, IWC mentor, participation in events and panel discussions, and taking part in a peer panel for selection procedures of various development schemes run by the IWC and/or fellow literary organisations.
• The chance to apply for exclusive writers’ residencies for professional members.
• You can add your name to the list of Professional Memberson our website.
• Invitation to join ‘WORD’ – a co-operative forum for professional writers to share information, and to offer support and encouragement to peers. ‘WORD’ came about in response to the often articulated concerns of many writers, the need to connect with others, to learn more about the rapidly-changing world of publishing and to act in a co-operative manner around areas of shared interest.  If you are an IWC Professional Member and would like further information, please contact info@irishwriterscentre.ieputting “Joining WORD” in the subject line.
• Upon request, we can issue you with a certificate which will confirm you as a Professional Member of the IWC. This will be accepted as evidence of your professional status when applying for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Criteria

Professional members will be required to provide a CV, ISBN or other evidential material to support their application as a Professional Member for a minimum of 3 of the stated criteria.