Support Schemes for Northern Irish Writers

With support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery funding, we are delighted to once again offer subsidised membership and mentoring schemes for writers from or based in Northern Ireland.

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

The below schemes will directly connect Northern writers with the Irish Writers Centre and writers from across the island.

Subsidised Schemes for Northern Irish Writers

1. Mentoring Support Scheme: We will provide 30 writers from or based in Northern Ireland with one free 1.5 hour mentoring session with 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. 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.
2. Membership Support Scheme: Our membership scheme connects our community of writers from across the island through a number of member benefits, including access to advice, opportunities, and advocacy. IWC Associate Membership is open to all writers. Professional Membership is open to those who meet a set of criteria available here, and brings additional benefits including priority consideration for employment opportunities and eligibility for residencies/ bursaries exclusive to professional members. 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.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

These schemes are open only to writers currently based in Northern Ireland and to writers from Northern Ireland who are currently based in the Republic of Ireland. You must be over the age of 18 to apply. Writers applying for Professional Membership under our Membership Support Scheme will need to meet our professional membership criteria.

The IWC is working towards the development of our first equality and diversity policy, and 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 schemes, and will place a strong focus on ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality and socioeconomic status when evaluating the applications for these opportunities.

Applications for both schemes will be evaluated by an external selection panel, with reference to the considerations outlined in our EDI Statement and to the case made in your application form as to how you would benefit from a fee-waived membership or mentoring session.

How to Apply

Please fill out the relevant form linked below to apply:

• Mentoring Support Scheme
• Membership Support Scheme

If you have any queries about these schemes, please contact the IWC team at info@writerscentre.ie.

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

5.00pm on 18 November 2022