Creative Scotland is accepting applications from organisations in the cultural, educational, health, and other sectors to host a writer in residence. Funding for this opportunity is provided by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, supporting the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship. 

The fellowship allows mid-career and established writers to focus on their creative projects during a year-long residency. Eligible organisations should be committed to fostering creativity and providing an encouraging environment for the writer’s development throughout the residency. 

Previous Fellow partnerships include award-winning novelist and screenwriter Rachelle Atalla, hosted by the Division of Literature and Languages at the University of Stirling; Times Bestseller and Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year winner, Mary Paulson-Ellis at Edinburgh City of Literature Trust; award-winning multi-genre writer Helen Sedgwick with Creative Scotland; children’s author Maisie Chan at Peter Pan Moat Brae; author and poet, Jenni Fagan at Edinburgh’s Summerhall; playwright Martin O’Connor at Playwright’s Studio Scotland in partnership with the Royal Lyceum Theatre; Morna Young at Aberdeen City Council’s Creative Learning resource and fiction writer, and Kirsty Logan at the University of Glasgow’s Association for Scottish Literary Studies.  

Dr Liam Bell, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at former host organisation, the University of Stirling said:

“Hosting the Gavin Wallace Fellowship in the Division of Literature and Languages has not only added another lively creative voice, Rachelle Atalla, to our corridors but her project has also served to strengthen – and at times even initiate – really productive collaborations and partnerships across the institution.  

“We’re hugely looking forward to seeing the finished novel, in the fullness of time, but the legacy of the fellowship here has already been established by the exchange of ideas made possible by Rachelle’s presence.” 

Organisations applying to host the Fellowship are invited to suggest a broad theme related to their own work. The successful host organisation will then recruit a writing fellow. An award of £29,000 is available and will be split into a £24,000 stipend for the successful writer and £5,000 for the host organisation. 

Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland said:

“The Gavin Wallace Fellowship is a transformative opportunity for hosts and fellows alike. The organisations who have hosted in the past have all enjoyed enriching connections with acclaimed writers, leading to exciting new collaborations and the development of new perspectives. 

The Fellowship is a unique chance for Scottish organisations to support the development of outstanding new writing. We are looking forward to seeing what interesting new relationships will develop throughout this 2025 iteration and would encourage anyone who is curious about the programme to get in touch to find out more.” 

Full application guidance and application details can be accessed on the Creative Scotland website.