“Homines Urbani” — a literary residency programme organised by Willa Decjusza in Kraków 16.02.2026
“Homines Urbani” is an international programme of literary residencies and events addressed to writers from Poland, Ukraine, and German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The programme continues a unique cycle of fellowship residencies hosted by Willa Decjusza which—being the only initiative of its kind in Poland—ran from 2004 to 2012. It significantly contributed to the internationalisation of Poland’s literary life, strengthened cooperation between Polish, German and Ukrainian creative communities, and above all provided meaningful support to authors whose residency work resulted in many important and widely acclaimed books (nearly 100 people took part in the programme, including Dorota Masłowska, Michał Witkowski, Łukasz Orbitowski, Juli Zeh, Tania Malarczuk, and Serhiy Zhadan).
In 2026, Willa Decjusza will host six participants within “Homines Urbani”: two from Poland, two from Ukraine, and two from German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). They will receive, among other benefits, a one-month residency and financial support. The aim of the programme is to enable participants to carry out the literary project submitted in the open call and to promote their work, for example through author events or by publishing a work created during the residency in the magazine Radar.
How to apply?
Submit your application via the online form (available in Polish or English):
[CLICK]
Who can apply?
Writers, poets, essayists and translators from Poland, Ukraine, and German-speaking countries who have at least one book publication.
Application deadline:
15 March 2025
Results announcement:
31 March 2025
We expect:
Completion of the literary project described in the application and granting a non-exclusive licence to the resulting work (at least 20,000 characters of prose or a set of 5 poems);
Participation in events organised by the Willa Decjusza Institute of Culture (e.g. author meetings, discussions, readings).
We offer:
A one-month residency at Willa Decjusza in Kraków (guest rooms in the historic Łaski House) — a selected 30-day period between 1 June and 30 September;
A fee of PLN 6,000 gross, paid under a contract for specific work or via a non-exclusive licence agreement (after submission of the work covered by the agreement);
Reimbursement of travel costs (up to PLN 1,000 upon presentation of an airplane, train or bus ticket);
Organisational and curatorial support;
The possibility to publish a residency work in the Polish-Ukrainian-German literary magazine Radar (in the original language and translated into the other two languages).
Contact:
Paweł Łyżwiński: pawel.lyzwinski@willadecjusza.pl