Call for applications
The call for applications for the Polish-Catalan literary residencies is now open!
PEN Català-Villa Decius International Residency for Emerging Non-Fiction Writers in Catalan and Polish
The PEN Català and Villa Decius, in collaboration with the Institut Ramon Llull and Faber Llull in Olot, are launching a call for six emerging writers with a project in essay or non-fiction who wish to participate in a literary residency program taking place throughout 2025 and 2026 in Olot and Kraków.
This residency aims to support emerging essay and non-fiction creation while fostering dialogue on the challenges our society faces. It also seeks to promote literary creation in Catalan and Polish.
We are looking for writing projects that present a critical perspective on society, envision collective future scenarios, and explore or experiment with topics such as climate emergency, linguistic rights, technology, the future of journalism, migration and human rights, democracy, or freedom of expression, among others.
Program Objectives
The main goal of this call is to provide a space for work, inspiration, and exchange. The residency will be divided into two phases:
- The first phase will take place in June 2025 at the Faber Llull residency in Olot (Catalonia).
- The second phase will take place in February 2026 at Villa Decius in Kraków (Poland).
The residency will consist of two blocks: A collective block, prioritizing interaction among the group of residents, featuring meetings with professionals from various sectors to provide inspiration and mentorship. An individual block, where each resident will have the opportunity to develop their essay or non-fiction project independently.
Upon completing the residency, participants will have three months to finalize and deliver their works. The organization will not publish the final texts, and authors will retain their rights to publish them whenever and with whomever they choose.
A digital collective publication featuring samples of each resident's work will be produced in Catalan and Polish, with the possibility of including a third language. This publication will be shared with European publishers to encourage translation and dissemination. Additionally, participants will take part in networking events with translators and publishers to promote their work.
Who Can Apply?
- Writers in Catalan or Polish who are at an early stage in their literary careers (three writers from each language will be selected) and residing in a country within the European Union.
- Applicants must have at least one published work.
- English will be the working language during the residency, so sufficient proficiency in English is required.
- Academic projects such as theses or dissertations will not be accepted.
*Note: The residency facilities are not currently adapted for individuals with reduced mobility.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following:
- Literary quality of the project.
- Relevance of the topics addressed, originality in approach, and innovation in language.
- Alignment of the proposed project with the values and mission of the organizing entities (for more information, consult their respective websites).
Required Documents:
- Motivation letter explaining the interest in participating in the residency.
- CV (maximum two pages), including prior publications and proof of English proficiency.
- Project title, short description, and structure (maximum two pages).
- Writing sample (from the current project or a previous work, maximum five pages).
- Recommendation letter(s) (optional).
What is included?
- Two 7-night residencies with accommodation and full board, in Olot and Kraków.
- Round-trip travel expenses.
- Participation in a collective digital publication.
- Translation of a sample of the text into Catalan or Polish.
- Networking meetings with literary professionals.
- A remuneration of €1,000 (paid after submitting the final work).
What does the candidacy involve?
- Availability to attend both residencies: in Olot in June 2025 and in Kraków in February 2026.
- Participation in additional activities related to the residency, which will be communicated in advance.
- Submission of the final project within three months of completing the second residency. Upon submission, participants will receive the €1,000 honorarium.
- Transfer of rights to translate and publish a 10-15 page excerpt of the work for non-commercial purposes, as part of a collective digital publication in Catalan and Polish (with the possibility of a third language).
When will the residency take place?
- June 2–9, 2025: Faberllull Residency in Olot (Girona, Catalonia).
- February 2026: Villa Decius Residency in Kraków, Poland (exact dates to be confirmed).
Where will the residency take place?
Faber Llull Residency in Olot, Catalonia.
Villa Decius in Kraków, Poland.
What is the deadline for applying?
Applications must be submitted by March 21, 2025 via the formular.
Results Announcement
Applications will be evaluated by an expert jury, and the results will be announced on April 10, 2025.
(*The organizing entities reserve the right to extend this deadline in the case of a high number of applications.)
The PEN Català and Villa Decius, in collaboration with the Institut Ramon Llull and Faber Llull in Olot, are launching a call for six emerging writers with a project in essay or non-fiction who wish to participate in a literary residency program taking place throughout 2025 and 2026 in Olot and Kraków.
This residency aims to support emerging essay and non-fiction creation while fostering dialogue on the challenges our society faces. It also seeks to promote literary creation in Catalan and Polish.
We are looking for writing projects that present a critical perspective on society, envision collective future scenarios, and explore or experiment with topics such as climate emergency, linguistic rights, technology, the future of journalism, migration and human rights, democracy, or freedom of expression, among others.
Program Objectives
The main goal of this call is to provide a space for work, inspiration, and exchange. The residency will be divided into two phases:
- The first phase will take place in June 2025 at the Faber Llull residency in Olot (Catalonia).
- The second phase will take place in February 2026 at Villa Decius in Kraków (Poland).
The residency will consist of two blocks: A collective block, prioritizing interaction among the group of residents, featuring meetings with professionals from various sectors to provide inspiration and mentorship. An individual block, where each resident will have the opportunity to develop their essay or non-fiction project independently.
Upon completing the residency, participants will have three months to finalize and deliver their works. The organization will not publish the final texts, and authors will retain their rights to publish them whenever and with whomever they choose.
A digital collective publication featuring samples of each resident's work will be produced in Catalan and Polish, with the possibility of including a third language. This publication will be shared with European publishers to encourage translation and dissemination. Additionally, participants will take part in networking events with translators and publishers to promote their work.
Who Can Apply?
- Writers in Catalan or Polish who are at an early stage in their literary careers (three writers from each language will be selected) and residing in a country within the European Union.
- Applicants must have at least one published work.
- English will be the working language during the residency, so sufficient proficiency in English is required.
- Academic projects such as theses or dissertations will not be accepted.
*Note: The residency facilities are not currently adapted for individuals with reduced mobility.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following:
- Literary quality of the project.
- Relevance of the topics addressed, originality in approach, and innovation in language.
- Alignment of the proposed project with the values and mission of the organizing entities (for more information, consult their respective websites).
Required Documents:
- Motivation letter explaining the interest in participating in the residency.
- CV (maximum two pages), including prior publications and proof of English proficiency.
- Project title, short description, and structure (maximum two pages).
- Writing sample (from the current project or a previous work, maximum five pages).
- Recommendation letter(s) (optional).
What is included?
- Two 7-night residencies with accommodation and full board, in Olot and Kraków.
- Round-trip travel expenses.
- Participation in a collective digital publication.
- Translation of a sample of the text into Catalan or Polish.
- Networking meetings with literary professionals.
- A remuneration of €1,000 (paid after submitting the final work).
What does the candidacy involve?
- Availability to attend both residencies: in Olot in June 2025 and in Kraków in February 2026.
- Participation in additional activities related to the residency, which will be communicated in advance.
- Submission of the final project within three months of completing the second residency. Upon submission, participants will receive the €1,000 honorarium.
- Transfer of rights to translate and publish a 10-15 page excerpt of the work for non-commercial purposes, as part of a collective digital publication in Catalan and Polish (with the possibility of a third language).
When will the residency take place?
- June 2–9, 2025: Faberllull Residency in Olot (Girona, Catalonia).
- February 2026: Villa Decius Residency in Kraków, Poland (exact dates to be confirmed).
Where will the residency take place?
Faber Llull Residency in Olot, Catalonia.
Villa Decius in Kraków, Poland.
What is the deadline for applying?
Applications must be submitted by March 21, 2025 via the formular.
Results Announcement
Applications will be evaluated by an expert jury, and the results will be announced on April 10, 2025.
(*The organizing entities reserve the right to extend this deadline in the case of a high number of applications.)