The Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies (LCCS) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has invited writers from Guyana to apply for a two-week residency at the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad for the period March 15 to March 29, 2020
According to the invitation issued by the LCCS, up to two writers will be selected for the residency and will have access to the UWI library, including the West Indiana collection, and be able to work in the area reserved for researchers in West Indiana.
It added that they will meet with the MFA [Master of Fine Arts] Coordinator Dr Muli Amaye, and Vahni Capildeo, who will be on campus as writer-in-residence, as well as our MFA Creative Writing students.
Additionally, they will attend Campus Literature Week, from March 23 to March 27, and read from their work at one of the daily lunchtime readings that are organised during that week. “This provides an opportunity to meet with local writers,” the invitation says.
The offer includes airfare from Guyana to Trinidad and back; accommodation for two weeks; and a stipend of TT$300 per day per person (TT$4,200 in total per person).
It is noted that the accommodation will most likely be a townhouse—within a walking distance from campus, with two or three bedrooms and two separate bathrooms—which will have to be shared by the selected writers.
While Guyanese writers have been invited to apply for the residency, anyone who identifies as indigenous Guyanese is particularly encouraged to apply. “We are particularly interested in supporting writers who may not have the resources to travel frequently or access facilities like university libraries or literary festivals abroad,” the invitation adds.
Interested writers are asked to submit a brief statement of interest, no more than 500 words, including a description of their background and interests as writers; possible publications; and plans for the residency (What would they like to achieve while at UWI St Augustine?). Applicants are also asked to indicate their gender and date of birth in the document.
Applications should be submitted by email to Dr Amaye at muli.amaye@sta.uwi.edu and copied to Dr Maarit Forde at maarit.forde@sta.uwi.edu.
The application deadline is Friday, January 17, 2020.
