NB! The next call for applications will be announced in August 2024.

Residencies for writers and translators are a rapidly evolving aspect of Tartu City of Literature. Our residency programs aim to enhance international exchange and communication, diversify the local literary scene, and allow local readers, writers, and cultural organisers to become acquainted with new foreign authors and their works. Additionally, we seek to establish enduring connections, fostering a willingness for future collaborations beyond the residency period.

Our goal is to create a nurturing and inspiring environment where writers can focus on their work and generate fresh creative ideas. These programs also enable writers to introduce their work to Estonian readers.

The first international residency program for writers and translators was launched in 2017.  Since then Tartu has already hosted six writers-in-residence.

In addition to the existing residency program, we recently launched a 1-month residency designed exclusively for the translators of Estonian literature. This residency takes place once a year and in September 2023 we hosted the Hungarian translator Mónika Segesdi.

Supported by the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, Tartu City of Literature will also be able to offer 2-month residencies for five writers who live in or are closely connected to the  UNESCO Cities of Literature in the Nordic and Baltic regions. These residencies will take place between 2023 and 2025.