Lacuna Bursary 2023

The Lacuna Bursary is a new bursary specifically designed to support an emerging writer from an underrepresented group to develop their writing. It is created and funded by the Tyrone Guthrie Centre (TGC) in partnership with the Irish Writers Centre (IWC). This one-week fully resourced Writer-in-Residence Bursary will take place in 2023 by arrangement with the TGC.

In keeping with Goal 2 of the Irish Writers Centre’s new 2022-2026 Strategy, and with the goals expressed in the Tyrone Guthrie Centre’s Strategic Plan and Accessibility and Inclusion Policy www.tyroneguthrie.ie/about/people, this programme seeks to enhance opportunities for people across all communities to explore and participate in creative writing.

Who Can Apply:

This is an open call to writers, over 18 years of age, resident on the island of Ireland who come from an underrepresented group which includes Black, POC (person of colour), Traveller, Roma, LGBT+, disabled and working class writers, and those who consider themselves to be within the groups described in the EDI statement on the IWC’s website and the TGC’s Accessibility and Inclusion Policy www.tyroneguthrie.ie/about/people. Writers of both the English and Irish language are welcome to apply.

Eligibility:

Applicants will be considered eligible based on:

1. The case that they make for the bursary
2. Their level of skill and competence as a writer
3. Being from an underrepresented grouping

How to Apply:

Applications are accepted by email only to projects@writerscentre.ie

Please include:

1. A cover letter outlining the details of your eligibility as an underrepresented writer, including your statement of artistic intent, clearly and concisely outlining the project you would like to focus on during your time at Annaghmakerrig.
2. An updated Curriculum Vitae (max. two A4 pages).
3. Clearly labelled samples of recent work. We are looking for two short samples from different works (up to max 500 words each), plus a sample from the work-in-progress that you propose to focus on during the residency (Max 3 pages).
4. Any relevant information on your proposed project such as written excerpts, photos, research information, etc.

Note: Please compile all relevant documentation into a single Word doc or PDF attachment. (Incorrect collation may result in ineligibility.)

Application Deadline:

Wednesday 31st August at 5pm. 

No late applications will be considered. Applications will be acknowledged by email on receipt.

Selection Process and Criteria: 

All applications will be reviewed for eligibility. Applications will then go before a selection committee consisting of a member of the Irish Writers Centre, a nominee of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and an independent professional experienced in EDI considerations. The panel will select from eligible applications only, so please ensure to read the criteria carefully and to observe the sample word counts requested.

The recipient of the bursary will be publicly announced at a celebration event (TBC) at the Irish Writers Centre.

About the Tyrone Guthrie Centre:

The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a cross-border organisation that offers time away, space to work, and opportunities for collaboration and networking for artists that facilitates the development of their practice across all art forms. Annaghmakerrig House is situated in the quiet countryside of County Monaghan, and together with our self-catering cottages, our studios and performance spaces, as well as our lake and our forests, gardens, and fields, The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a place where creativity flourishes amid the many pressures and distractions of contemporary life. Providing a quiet environment that esteems, supports, and develops our artists is what we do, but we aim to do it more holistically by creating audiences for our artists where appropriate, and by creating partnerships with organisations such as The Irish Writers Centre for the benefit of artists from all communities on the island of Ireland.

About the Irish Writers Centre:

As the leading support and development organisation for writers since 1991, the Irish Writers Centre carries out its work, online and in person, on an all island basis. We work with writers of all types and talents, and actively encourage writers from all communities to engage in creative writing. We provide many ways and means for them to develop their skill, advance their ambitions and join a vibrant and diverse community of people who share their passion and purpose.

We are also a membership organisation, always seeking new opportunities for members to grow as writers and to connect with each other through IWC programmes and supports.