Elevate your hand if the thought of writing in a lovely setting, in neighborhood with different writers, and never having to fret about cooking or household obligations, feels like heaven? Think about all of that, plus the added bonus of being in a location the place Black tradition is considerable and honored. All of that and extra is feasible on the following writing residencies and retreats positioned everywhere in the world.
Apply Now
In no way is that this an exhaustive listing, however these residencies and writers retreats are all on the prime of my listing to attend (I’ve really already checked one off my listing) and will be on yours too. Be clear, you don’t should be a broadcast creator to use to any of those alternatives. Writers of all ranges are inspired to use. And word, as of at this time’s publication date, these retreats and residencies nonetheless have openings for 2022 and early 2023, so don’t delay. Get your utility in quickly.
Six Wonderful Writing Retreats and Residencies for Black Writers
Rose Pan African Training Writing Retreat and Cultural Tour – Senegal, West Africa
Led by award-winning poet and memoirist, Dr. Mary-Alice Daniel, this five-day occasion will perform as a cross-genre writing workshop on the coast of Senegal.
From the web site: “We’re at the moment accepting purposes for this 12 months’s writing workshop December 28-January 8, 2023. Be part of us for five days of poetry, writing, and dance workshops adopted by a 5 day tour of Dakar’s enchanting markets, museums, shoreline, and the beautiful lagoon and delta of northern Senegal. Dr. Daniel, our retreat chief, is a shocking expertise who was born in Nigeria and raised in England and Nashville. She acquired her BA from Yale College, her MFA from #2 ranked Artistic Writing Program on the College of Michigan, and her PhD in Artistic Writing and English Literature from the College of Southern California. Solo vacationers, digital nomads, teachers, professors, writers, and poets inspired to use!! “
Particulars: The Workshop runs from December 28, 2022 – January 8, 2023 and purposes are being accepted now. Go to the Rose Pan African Web site for extra particulars.
The Sea Island Writers Retreat – Sapelo Island, Georgia
Based by the incomparable, Ms. Tina McElroy Ansa, the Sea Island Writers Retreat provides a stunning location and a tremendous school of award-winning authors together with, Dolen Perkins Valdez, Nic Stone, and Regina Taylor. That is the writing retreat to feed your soul and revive your spirit.
From the web site: “Be part of a small group of dedicated writers for 4 full days of uninterrupted “author’s heaven” discussing, enhancing, revamping, and workshopping your work-in-progress with a few of the most notable and sensible writers of our time. Every workshop chief teaches her explicit style/writing, talks craft, and joins in camaraderie within the idyllic setting on one of many historic Georgia Sea Islands. Lodging and workshops will probably be held in a luscious spot in a sprawling island home with six bedrooms, 4 bogs, a number of porches, and customary areas for lectures and writing. Take pleasure in informal breakfast and chef-prepared meals every day, together with complimentary drinks and snacks all through the day.”
Particulars: Purposes are open now. Deadline to use is August 15, 2022. The retreat runs November 2-6, 2022. For extra data, test the Sea Island Writers Retreat web site.
The Roots. Wounds. Phrases. Annual Writers Retreat – Digital
The Roots. Wounds. Phrases writers retreat is now accepting purposes for his or her January 2023 retreat for storytellers of colour. This new-ish group holds common writing workshops and craft talks for writers of colour and they’re all the time superb and centered on the work of marginalized voices.
From the web site:
“The Roots. Wounds. Phrases. Annual Writers’ Retreat for Storytellers of Colour is a sacred area whereby BIPOC tales are celebrated, and BIPOC storytellers immersed in liberation. On the Writers’ Retreat, Storytellers obtain literary arts instruction supplied by award-winning BIPOC writers within the fields of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, speculative fiction, and younger grownup fiction. In January 2023, Roots. Wounds. Phrases. Fellows will journey to a digital sacred area the place they may workshop their literary artwork, carry out their work, take part in BIPOC-centered therapeutic and liberation modalities, in addition to obtain literary arts pedagogy from famend BIPOC storytellers.”
Particulars: The retreat will probably be held January 8 – 14, 2023 on-line. Purposes are being accepted now by way of July 31, 2022, so don’t delay if you wish to attend. For extra data, go to the Root. Wounds. Phrases. web site.
Sacatar Basis: Bahia, Brazil
Whereas the Sacatar Basis isn’t particularly a author’s residency, writers can completely apply and develop into a fellow at this Bahia, Brazil based mostly artist’s retreat. Sacatar is open to individuals of all races and nationalities, however since Bahia, Brazil is a metropolis with a large African affect – owing to the truth that Bahia is the place one-third of the African individuals kidnapped from Africa through the trans-Atlantic slave trade- landed post-abduction- the vibe in Bahia is tremendous Black and will probably be/ought to be an affect on the work produced whereas in residence.
From the Web site: “Sacatar helps residency fellowships for inventive people of all nationalities and ages working inside and throughout their respective inventive disciplines. Throughout their two-month residency interval, Sacatar Fellows are inspired and supported to make the most of their inventive apply to have interaction with the native Bahian communities in Salvador and Itaparica, leading to wealthy intercultural collaborative exchanges which are shared by way of public packages domestically and the world over. Sacatar offers unstructured time and an applicable area for inventive people to develop new work. (Be aware: All meals are included as nicely.)
The Instituto Sacatar sponsors residencies for extremely certified people in all inventive pursuits. Whereas we generally use the phrase ‘artist,’ we interpret ‘creativity’ within the broadest potential sense. We search inventive people of all backgrounds, with out regard to race, creed, nationwide origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital standing, ancestry, incapacity or HIV standing.”
Particulars: The deadline for making use of for 2023 residencies is August 1, 2022. For extra details about this thrilling alternative, go to the Sacatar web site.
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Hurston Wright Writers Residency
One among my favourite author’s workshops for Black writers is sponsored by the Hurston Wright Basis. I’ve accomplished one week in-person workshop right here and I additionally participated in one in every of their digital weekend workshops. Each featured unbelievable instructors and an extremely supportive setting. Hurston Wright is a company devoted to supporting and celebrating Black writers and their workshops are not any totally different.
From the web site: “The Hurston/Wright Basis’s mission is to offer companies, helps and alternatives that mentor, acknowledge and supply neighborhood for skilled and aspiring Black writers. Workshops and courses taught by award-winning authors serve rising and midcareer grownup writers. Greater than a thousand Black writers have taken our courses because the first one in 1996, growing variety within the cultural neighborhood as they’ve gone on to create books and careers as professors, native cultural employees, and nationwide thought leaders.”
This 12 months’s author’s retreats are taking place proper now, so it’s too late to use, however take a look at the Hurston Wright Web site to see when you’ll be able to apply for 2023’s choices.
Black Rock Senegal
Based by presidential portrait artist, Kehinde Wliey, Black Rock Senegal is one other residency open to all artists, not simply writers, and also you don’t should be Black to use. However Black Rock was created in 2019, particularly to carry artists to Africa, to have interaction with the tradition, so, Black individuals ought to really feel fairly safe in that Black Rock provides a Black expertise.
From the web site: “Named for the volcanic rocks that blanket its shoreline, Black Rock is a multidisciplinary artist-in-residence program based by famend artist Kehinde Wiley in 2019. The residency brings collectively worldwide artists to reside and work in Dakar, Senegal for 1-3 month stays. The Black Rock compound design was conceived by Senegalese architect Abib Djenne with inside collaboration between Wiley, Fatiya Djenne, and Aissa Dione. The advanced features a residence and studio area for Wiley together with three single-occupancy residency flats with adjoining studio areas. Our mission is to help new creative creation by way of collaborative trade and to incite change within the international discourse about what Africa means at this time.”
Purposes are closed for this 12 months, so take a look at the Black Rock web site to seek out out when purposes for subsequent 12 months might be submitted.
Fly Away and Write
If these alternatives sound scrumptious and pleasant to you, then go forward and apply. You don’t have anything to lose and a lot to achieve in writing time, neighborhood, inspiration, training, and a room of your individual to create.
Let me know in the event you determine to use. I wish to hear all about it.
Extra Good Stuff for POC Writers
By the Method…If you wish to hear about extra alternatives for BIPOC writers, be sure you join the brand new MAMP E-newsletter. I’ll be sending it out twice a month with writing suggestions, assets, alternatives and inspiration. I’ll additionally embrace details about my very own upcoming writing courses and writing teaching alternatives. The subsequent situation comes out on Monday July 25, so be sure you enroll quickly.
