International residencies and capability building programmes play a significant role in encouraging cultural exchange between countries. To support Singapore writers’ participation at such platforms, the National Arts Council (NAC) works with various international partners to offer fully paid residency awards to Singapore writers across Singapore’s four major languages, English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Our partners have included the Lu Xun Academy of Literature (China), the Toji Cultural Foundation (South Korea), the National Centre for Writing (UK), Sangam House (India), and the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (USA).
Open calls for residencies happen throughout the year and will be listed on this page when they are open for applications.
NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL – SANGAM HOUSE RESIDENCY 2025-2026
Open for Applications!
The National Arts Council is pleased to partner with Sangam House in Bangalore, India, to offer a fully-paid, one-month-long residency for up to two Singapore Tamil writers in 2025-2026.
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Residency Programme Dates: For one month (1st to 28th November 2025 OR 2nd to 30th January 2026)
Application Deadline: 20 April 2025 (Sunday), 2359hrs
About the Residency: Sangam House provides visiting writers with the time and space to write, while giving them a chance to build a solid and influential network of personal and professional relationships that can deepen their own work, and in effect, expand and diversify literature. Their programme also facilitates interaction between the visiting writers and the local arts communities, cultivating an intersection that infuses the local communities with inspiration and new ideas, while allowing each participating writer to deepen their understanding of the diverse emotional and social climates in which literature is conceived and received. For more details: www.sangamhouse.org .
Residency Funding: The Writer-in-Residence will be awarded full residency support, including a per diem to cover incidental expenses not covered by Sangam House, and have their return economy airfare, visa fees, travel insurance, ground transport and residency fee (for housing and meals) covered while they attend the residency. The Writer-in-Residence also stands a chance of having their work translated to English to be featured in South Parade, a literary magazine published by Sangam House.
Application Procedure: To apply, please download the Application Form and Application Guidelines. All applications are to be submitted through email to Rachannaa_VELAYUDHAM_from.TP@nac.gov.sg and must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:
- Completed application form;
- A brief (two pages, maximum) curriculum vitae of applicant, focusing on applicant’s literary works.
- A brief (one page, maximum) description of the work to be undertaken while at Sangam House.
Note: This work must be original. But it can be at any stage of development.
- A Tamil writing sample, of no more than 50 pages. (Please indicate if the work has been published or is unpublished. If it has been published, please provide publication details.)
Note: Writing sample does not have to be in English. Please submit your writing sample in its original language (i.e. Tamil). However, all other documentation and application form must be submitted in English.
| 2025-2026 Dates | Milestones |
| 20 April 2025 (Sunday), 2359hrs | Applications close |
| May 2025 | Notification of results |
| 1 November 2025 OR 2 January 2026 | Start of Residency |
NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL (NAC) – INTERNATIONAL WRITING PROGRAM (IWP) FALL RESIDENCY 2025
Open for Applications!
The National Arts Council is pleased to partner with the University of Iowa’s renowned International Writing Program (IWP), to offer a fully-paid, 11-week residency for one Singapore writer in 2025.
The residency is open to writers who write in any one of Singapore’s official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. The selected candidate will be required to be conversant in English. The final candidate to be selected and funded every year is subject to the merits of the candidates who apply and the competitive assessment criteria as outlined by IWP.
Fall Residency Program Dates: 20 August – 31 October 2025
Application Deadline: 31 March 2025 (Monday), 2359hrs
About the Residency: Administered by the University of Iowa, the International Writing Program (IWP) is the oldest and largest multinational writing residency in the world. Since 1967, over 1,600 writers from more than 160 nations have taken part in the Fall Residency. The goal of the IWP is to provide authors a one-of-a-kind inter-cultural opportunity and the time and space to write, read, translate, study, conduct research, travel, give readings, stage work, and become part of the vibrant literary and academic community at the university and in Iowa City, the only American city designated as a UNESCO City of Literature. For more details: http://iwp.uiowa.edu/residency/this-years-program
Residency Duration: Over the course of 11 weeks, aside from working on their own projects, writers will give readings and lectures that share their work and cultures, collaborate with artists from other genres and art forms, and travel and interact with American audiences and literary communities across the United States.
Residency Schedule at a glance: http://iwp.uiowa.edu/residency/events
Residency Funding: The 2025 Writer-in-Residence will be awarded full residency support, including a stipend to cover meals and other incidentals, and have their airfare, visa fees, housing, transport and insurance costs covered while they attend the residency.
Application Procedure: To apply, please download the Application Guidelines and the Application Form. All applications are to be submitted through email to gladys_chua@nac.gov.sg and must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:
- Completed application form;
- Representative sample of a past work in English (between 10 to 15 pages long);
- Detailed curriculum vitae of applicant, focusing on applicant’s literary works; and
- Proposal letter (which includes the writer’s statement of purpose, objectives, outline, activities, and details of the new work to be written during the residency).
| 2025 Dates | Milestones |
| 31 March 2025 (Monday), 2359hrs | Applications close |
| April 2025 | Notification of results |
| 20 August - 31 October 2025 | Fall Residency |
National Centre for Writing (NCW) – Singapore Residency Programme 2025
Open Call has concluded for the 2025 programme.
Residency Programme Dates:
| Programme | Details |
In-Person Programme |
A 1-month long, in-person residency at the National Centre for Writing, in Norwich (UK) in the month of:
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| Virtual Programme (part-time) | A 6-month long, online, part-time residency with the National Centre for Writing (UK) for:
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Applicants should decide which programme they would prefer; they may apply for only one programme.
Application Deadline: 4 March 2025 (Tuesday), 2359hrs
About the National Centre for Writing (UK): The National Centre for Writing (NCW), previously known as Writers’ Centre Norwich, has had a long history in working with writers and writing. As a major literary arts portfolio organisation in the UK, it is funded by the Arts Council England and has strong links with the British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT). Based in Norwich, one of the UNESCO Cities of Literature, NCW aims to be a physical and virtual space for writers, literary translators and those working in the world of literature to meet, learn and collaborate. In addition to their literary programming for the reading public, NCW organises workshops, mentoring and other opportunities for writers and translators at different stages in their career, and participates in projects that range from international partnerships to literary festivals. More details here: www.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk
Residency Funding:
| Programme | Funding Details |
| In-Person Programme | The selected participants will receive a stipend to cover meals and have their airfare, lodging, transport, insurance and hospitality costs (to participate in the activities required by the programme) covered while they attend the residency. |
| Virtual Programme (part-time) | The selected participants will receive a stipend to work on their proposed project(s) and participate in activities required by the programme. |
For more details about the programme, please refer to the Application Guidelines.
Application Procedure:
To apply, please submit the following via email to gladys_chua@nac.gov.sg by 4 March 2025 (Tuesday), 2359hrs:
- The completed Application Form.
- A covering letter, stating why you believe you would benefit from this mentorship.
- Your CV or resume.
| 2025 Dates | Milestones |
| 4 March 2025 (Tuesday), 2359hrs | Applications close |
| 31 March 2025 | Notification of results |
| June 2025 | Start of virtual residency |
| July 2025/October 2025 | Start of in-person residency |
| Key Residencies | In-Person or Virtual | Country | Duration | Approximate Dates |
| National Centre for Writing Residency Programme | In-person | UK | 1 month | Typically in June or July |
| National Centre for Writing Virtual Residency Programme | Virtual | Anywhere | 7 months | From June to December |
| University of Iowa’s International Writing Program Fall Residency | In-person | USA | 3 months | From late August to mid-November |
| National Centre for Writing Emerging Translator Mentorships Programme | Virtual & In-person (optional) | Anywhere / UK | 6 months | From October to March |
| Sangam House | In-person | India | 1 month | Between November to January |