The Under Rough Ridge Writers’ Retreat Trustees offer for the first time in 2022 a 12-week residency in the village of Oturehua. The residency will include the exclusive use of a house, and a weekly stipend of $1000 during the stay.
Applications are invited from serious writers of proven literary merit in the genres of fiction, non- fiction or poetry. ‘Proven literary merit’ means having published at least one book as well as a body of work in recognised publications.
The resident will have exclusive occupancy of a house (built 2012) in the centre of the village, three doors from the pub and store. It has three bedrooms, a bathroom, garage, BBQ, woodburner and heat Power, internet, and firewood are covered by the residency.
- The resident will be responsible for their travel to and from Oturehua and transport while here, as well as their own food. Please note that shopping facilities in the village are limited. Ranfurly is 25 kms to the north, and Alexandra 60 kms to the south.
- Applicants should be Aotearoa-NZ citizens or permanent residents actually living in this country, and at least 35 years old.
- The residency will be awarded to someone for whom the stipend and the opportunity to dedicate several months to working on a specified project will represent a life-changing benefit. It’s therefore likely that the successful applicant will be an emerging or mid-career writer.
- Residency dates are from early July to late September, the final week (24 September–1 October) coinciding with the annual Under Rough Ridge Writers’ Retreat, which draws up to 30 writers to the village of Oturehua. The resident will be expected to give an informal talk during the week about their stay, and to donate a copy of one of their books to the house.
- There is the possibility for the residency to be shared between two people for six weeks each. In such an instance, the first resident would be expected to send a written report about their stay here. Please specify whether you wish to stay for 6 or 12 weeks.
- The theme of this year’s URR retreat is the environment; preference for the residency will be given to someone who demonstrates in their writing an awareness of our connection to the land and our urgent need to be responsible kaitiaki.
- The residency cannot be held concurrently with another literary grant. If, at the time of selection, the successful applicant has been awarded one, the URR residency will go to the next person on the shortlist.
- Any published work arising from the residency should acknowledge the award.
- Applicants should be aware that maturity, resilience and good health are needed to live in rural Central Otago through the winter!
Closing date for applications is 20 April 2022 and a decision will be made by mid May.
