Island to Island: Aotearoa to Scotland
Writers Residency Exchange
Verb Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-tara, Aotearoa New Zealand) and Moniack Mhor (Highlands, Scotland) are partnering to create a residency exchange in 2024. The purpose is to offer writers paid time to explore a new geography, a fresh environment to inspire their creative work; and to strengthen the relationship between our respective literatures and acknowledge the close ties that both countries have both historically and in a contemporary context.
Applications for the 2024 residency exchange will close on Monday 8 April at 12:00pm.
Across islands and oceans — a new residency exchange between Aotearoa and Scotland
Verb Wellington and Moniack Mhor are thrilled to announce a new residency exchange for 2024 — Island to Island: Aotearoa to Scotland.
The purpose is to offer writers paid time to explore a new geography, a fresh environment to inspire their creative work; and to strengthen the relationship between our respective literatures and acknowledge the close ties that both countries have both historically and in a contemporary context.
In August-September, an Aotearoa writer will travel to Moniack Mhor for a three-week residency. The writer will also join the Edinburgh International Book Festival in late August, ahead of the residency period. Their stay will also include a micro-residency to Skye as a further opportunity to explore the idea of an island. During their stay, the Aotearoa writer will meet the Scottish writer.
In October-November, a Scottish writer will travel to Wellington for a three-week residency, including the Verb Readers & Writers Festival and a journey to Kāpiti Island. While in Wellington our Scottish writer will have opportunities to connect with the local literary community and meet our Aotearoa writer (again) to deepen the exchange.
The experience in Scotland with Moniack Mhor
The writer will begin their time with an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in late August (the final weekend of the festival) in an Island to Island event including the Scottish writer.
The writer will then travel to Moniack Mhor from Edinburgh to fulfil their residency. During this residency, they will connect with other visiting writers, including writers from the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Ukraine, Ireland, and the 2024 Jessie Kesson Fellow. The writer will also travel for a micro-residency to the Isle of Skye for two nights.
The Aotearoa writer may also give a workshop along with the Scottish writer to the Young Writers Café or a care-experienced young people group. There will also be the opportunity to take part in a live reading event to a Highland audience at Moniack’s Strawbale Studio at the end of the three-week residency.
The experience in Aotearoa New Zealand with Verb Wellington
The writer will travel to Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to be in the city between 22 October - 11 November to live in a house accommodation. Verb Wellington will offer networking and hosting opportunities for the writer to meet the tight-knit local literary community.
The writer will also travel to Kāpiti Island for an overnight tour — a conservation project that has inspired artists for decades.
As part of the Verb Readers & Writers Festival 2024, the writer will be featured in an event alongside the Aotearoa Island to Island residency recipient.
Eligibility and application details
In brief, the Moniack Mhor residency includes:
Return transport costs from Aotearoa New Zealand to Scotland for the resident
Accommodation for the duration of the residency in Edinburgh, at Moniack Mhor and on the Isle of Skye
Separate fees for appearances at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Verb Readers & Writers Festival
A separate fee for participation in a local workshop with Moniack Mhor (subject to confirmation)
A weekly stipend of £500 (up to three weeks)
In brief, the Verb Wellington residency includes:
Return transport costs from Scotland to Aotearoa New Zealand for the resident
Accommodation for the duration of the residency in Wellington and on Kāpiti Island
Separate fees for appearances at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Verb Readers & Writers Festival
Kāpiti overnight tour and retreat
A weekly stipend of £500 (up to three weeks)
This residency exchange is open to established writers based in Aotearoa New Zealand and Scotland working in fiction, non-fiction, or long-form poetic genres (e.g. verse novels). To be eligible, applicants must have had at least one major piece of work published by a publishing house in Aotearoa or the United Kingdom (for example, one novel, or one short-story collection). It is beneficial for New Zealand-based applicants to have experience delivering workshops or working with children, young people and/or community groups. We particularly encourage applications from those who experience barriers to the writing process.
Applications are open from Monday 25 March until Monday 8 April at 12:00pm in the respective time zones of Aotearoa and Scotland. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Monday 15 April 2024.
Please apply using the Google Form accessible below. For further details about the Island to Island residency exchange, or queries about the application process, please contact Verb Wellington at info@verbwellington.nz.