Banipal Visiting Writer Fellowship 2018, University of Durham, UK

The Banipal Visiting Writer Fellowship CALL FOR APPLICATIONS for the 2018 Fellow

St Aidan’s College of the University of Durham, Banipal magazine of modern Arab literature, and the British Council, are pleased to open the call for applications for the 2018 Fellow. The Banipal Visiting Writer Fellowship is a three-month residency at St Aidan’s College for a published author writing in Arabic. The call for applications is open to eligible authors from all over the Arab world and beyond.
The Fellowship is based on the three cornerstones that have formed the core of Banipal magazine: that Arab literature is an essential part of world culture and human civilisation; that dialogue between different cultures needs to be continually deepened; and that the joy and enlightenment to be gained from reading beautiful poetry and imaginative writing is an integral part of human existence. 

The Fellowship encourages dialogue with the Arab world through literature. The cultural exchange and dialogue that it enables, and creates, opens windows for non-Arab audiences in the UK onto the realities of Arab cultures in all their diversity and vibrancy, enabling fruitful discourse to develop. It is hoped that this will lead to further exchange, to mutual respect, to new writings, to deeper understanding, and to contributing to Arab literature taking its rightful place in the canon of world literature.
The annual Fellowship provides a unique space for a published author writing in Arabic to reflect and to write, and to also have the opportunity to share their work with British audiences.

The Fellowship raises the profile of Arabic writing in the UK in general and promotes the establishment of long-lasting connections between writers in the UK and the Arabic-speaking world.

The Fellowship provides return travel costs to St Aidan’s College from the Fellow’s home, full board and accommodation in the College for the duration of the residency, and an honorarium of £1500.
The 2018 Fellowship will take place from 22 January 2018 to 20 April 2018.

Applicants for this Fellowship should submit, to the Principal of St Aidan’s College, a letter of application and full curriculum vitae that includes details of their published works and works in progress. Applications can be made by email or by post. Previous applicants may re-apply with updated applications. The deadline for receiving applications for the 2018 Fellowship is 5pm UK time, Friday 1 September 2017. The successful applicant will be notified by email on Sunday 1 October 2017. 

The selection panel:

Susan F Frenk, Principal, St Aidan’s College, University of Durham;
Fadia Faqir, Creative Writing Fellow, St Aidan’s College;
Samuel Shimon, Editor-in-chief, Banipal magazine;
Margaret Obank, Publisher, Banipal magazine