AIR Literature Västra Götaland announces residency scholarships
Are you a professional writer or translator? Do you need a dedicated space to work? Are you looking for a peaceful environment and inspiration?
The residency scholarship includes one month of free accommodation and access to a workspace. The scholarship amount is 20,000 SEK. In residency scholarships where the host is a library or a free cultural actor, an author fee of 8,500 SEK is also included for a public event arranged during the residency in collaboration with the host (institution).
All residency scholarships take place in November 2026.
Apply by April 23.
Locations and Hosts
The Cultural Administration is now announcing 15 residency scholarships at eleven locations in the Region Västra Götaland. In your application, you specify which location you are applying for, in first, second, and third choice. The libraries and free cultural actors offer one place each, Villa Martinson offers five places.
- Alingsås kulturhus och bibliotek (Alingsås Municipality)
- Bengtsfors bibliotek (Bengtsfors Municipality)
- Lidköpings bibliotek (Lidköping Municipality)
- Skövde stadsbibliotek (Skövde Municipality)
- Tanums bibliotek in collaboration with Grebbestads folkhögskola (Tanum Municipality)
- AiC (Artist in Coexistence) (Orust Municipality)
- Konstepidemin (Gothenburg Municipality)
- Ljurhallafabriken (Vårgårda Municipality)
- Nääs konsthantverk och galleri (Lerums Municipality)
- Wärenstams literature in collaboration with Ålgården (Borås Municipality)
- Villa Martinson, Jonsereds foundation andGothenburg University
Application
Applicants must be authors or translators and must be published in book form by an established publisher. Those working in various genres (poetry, prose, drama, graphic literature) are welcome to apply. We accept applications from all over the world, but particularly welcome applications from:
- Authors and translators active within UNESCO's network for creative cities, literature area
- Authors and translators active within Sweden's national minorities and minority languages
You apply through form by April 23. Click here to get to the form.
Selection
The selection of scholarship recipients is made in consultation with the reference group at the Cultural Administration in VGR and representatives from the hosts. Decisions are not motivated and cannot be appealed.
Included in the Residency Scholarship
- Scholarship amount to the author (20,000 SEK)
- Fee to the author for a public appearance during the residency (8,500 SEK)
- Compensation to the host for rental costs (15,000 SEK)
- Compensation to the host for other expenses (2,500 SEK)
The host offers suitable accommodation and workspace, appoints a contact person, and introduces the visiting author to the location. The host, if it is a library or a free cultural actor, also arranges, in consultation with the author, at least one public appearance (workshop, conversation, seminar) during the residency. Not applicable to Villa Martinson.
The scholarship recipient books and pays for their own travel to and from the residency and is responsible for having their own valid travel insurance.
After the residency, both the scholarship recipient and the host must submit a short report on the residency.
About AIR Literature Västra Götaland
AIR Literature Västra Götaland is a residency program run by the Cultural Administration in Region Västra Götaland. It is aimed at authors and translators from all over the world.
The purpose is to provide space and time for artistic exploration and creative work and to offer opportunities for inspiration, development, and deepening. The residency should also be anchored in the conditions of the location and the wishes of the host.