Support Schemes for Northern Ireland Writers 2023/2024

The Irish Writers Centre (IWC) is pleased to announce a new round of support schemes for writers from or based in Northern Ireland, made possible with support from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. These supports include 40 IWC Course Bursaries, 20 IWC Memberships and 30 IWC Mentoring supports.

In keeping with Goal 2 of our 2022–2026 strategy, these schemes will enhance opportunities for people across all communities to participate in creative writing and enhance their writing practise.

The IWC is also committed to taking steps to promote equality of opportunity for all those living in Ireland, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, as well as socio-economic background. We encourage writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Irish literature to apply for these bursaries, and will place a strong focus on ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status when evaluating applications. We particularly welcome applications from Black, POC (person of colour), Traveller, Roma, LGBTQ+, disabled and working class writers.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria for all three schemes

• These schemes are open only to writers aged eighteen or over who are either based in Northern Ireland or were born in Northern Ireland and now reside in the Republic of Ireland.
• Applicants can apply for all three schemes as long as they are eligible under each individual scheme.
• Applications will be evaluated by an external selection panel, with reference to the considerations outlined in our EDI Policy and to the case made in your application. 

Scheme 1: IWC Course Bursaries

The IWC will provide 40 bursaries for beginner and emerging writers. These bursaries will enable writers to develop their skills through funded places at Irish Writers Centre creative writing courses, and open up access to course entry by subsidising costs to individuals who may not otherwise be able to take a course. Each awardee will receive course credit worth €165 towards a course at the IWC.

About our courses

The Irish Writers Centre facilitates up to 150 courses a year for writers at every stage of their career. We provide a range of in-person and online courses including novel writing, short story, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Browse our courses here.

In line with our EDI Policy, these course bursaries are reserved for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Irish Literature from or based in Northern Ireland. To check your eligibility, please read our EDI Policy.

Please click here for the application form for the Course Bursaries Scheme.

Deadline: Wednesday 8th November 2023 at 5:00pm

Scheme 2: IWC Membership Scheme

The IWC’s membership scheme connects our community of writers from across the island through a number of member benefits, including access to advice, opportunities, and other supports. The membership also includes up to 20% discounts on events, courses and Novel Fair submissions.

Under this year’s Membership Support Scheme, we are offering 10 free Associate Memberships and 10 free Professional Memberships for eligible writers, each valid for one year.

Professional Membership brings additional benefits including priority consideration for employment opportunities and eligibility for residencies/ bursaries exclusive to professional members. Writers applying for Professional Membership under our Membership Support Scheme will need to meet our professional membership criteria.

IWC Associate Membership is open to all writers.

Please click here for the application form for the Membership Support Scheme.

Deadline: Wednesday 8th November at 5:00pm 

Scheme 3: IWC Mentoring Support

The IWC One-to-One Mentoring scheme offers an opportunity for writers to develop their work under expert guidance, drawing on the support of a professional to bring their writing to the next level.

The IWC will provide 30 emerging and professional writers from or based in Northern Ireland with one free 1.5 hour mentoring session, up to the value of €275. This mentorship includes reading up to 10,000 words of prose or up to 240 lines of poetry in advance by an experienced mentor from our One-to-One Mentoring panel, along with written feedback in the form of a 300-word report on their work.

In line with our EDI Policy a number of mentorships will be reserved for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Irish Literature from or based in Northern Ireland.

Please click here for the application form for the Mentoring Support Scheme.

Deadline: Wednesday 8th November 2023 at 5:00pm

About the Irish Writers Centre

For over 30 years as the leading support and development organisation for writers, the Irish Writers Centre has acknowledged and uplifted those with the courage and compulsion to write by providing opportunities 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 carry out our work, online and in person, on an all island basis. Our just-launched strategy outlines a commitment to diversity and sustainability across our activities and its ambition is to connect writers of all types and talents across the island.

Application Deadline

Deadline: Wednesday 8th  November 2023 at 5:00pm