Scotland's South Launches Exciting New Literary Residency Adventure!

For the first time ever, the south of Scotland is hosting a year-long literary residency, offering a unique opportunity for writers based in Scotland. The program, called the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship, is being led by DG Unlimited, which is Dumfries and Galloway's creative and cultural network. The fellowship comes with a payment of £24,000 and gives the chosen writer creative freedom to work on their projects. The residency will begin in March and is designed to provide structured support, time to focus on writing in the region, and chances to connect with the local creative community.

Writers who work in fiction, creative non-fiction, hybrid forms, spoken word, experimental writing, and graphic fiction are all encouraged to apply. The theme for this year is 'Unfolding Scotland,' which invites writers to explore ideas about identity, heritage, and belonging. Tabitha Mudaliar, the creative director at DG Unlimited, said the organization is proud to host the fellowship for the first time. She explained that their goal is to create a welcoming environment for the fellow, respect their independence, and offer encouragement, connections, and professional opportunities.

The program is especially interested in applications from writers who identify as part of ethnic minority groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, have protected characteristics, or have recently moved to Scotland. Beth Cochrane, a literature officer at Creative Scotland, said the fellowship is a rare and valuable chance for established writers in Scotland to develop their work further. She added that DG Unlimited is joining a group of excellent hosts and is well positioned to make the residency a success. The fellowship was created in memory of Dr Gavin Wallace, who spent his career supporting writers and literature organizations in Scotland. Applications for the fellowship close at 5:00 pm on 9 February. The program is expected to bring new energy and creativity to the south of Scotland, helping to highlight the region's cultural richness and support its growing community of writers and artists.