Literary Arts: National Centre for Writing (NCW) – Singapore Residency Programme

Explore more on the National Centre for Writing (NCW) – Singapore Residency Programme.

Last updated on 24 September 2026

Applications are currently closed. Please keep a look out for future updates on the next cycle.

International residencies and capability building programmes play a significant role in encouraging cultural exchange between countries. To support Singapore writers’ participation at such platforms, the National Arts Council (NAC) works with various international partners to offer fully paid residency awards to Singapore writers across Singapore’s four major languages, English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Our partners have included the Lu Xun Academy of Literature (China), the Toji Cultural Foundation (South Korea), the National Centre for Writing (UK), Sangam House (India), and the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (USA).

Each residency offers unique opportunities for creative development, cultural exchange, and professional networking within established international literary communities. Our partnership with the University of Iowa's International Writing Program offers immersion in America's oldest multinational writing residency:

National Centre for Writing (NCW) – Singapore Residency Programme 2026

Residency Programme Dates

Details

Programme

Details

In-Person Programme

A 1-month long, in-person residency at the National Centre for Writing, in Norwich (UK) in the month of:

July 2026 (priority will be given to translators)
October 2026

Virtual Programme (part-time)

A 6-month long, online, part-time residency for:

June – December 2026

Applicants should decide which programme they would prefer; they may apply for only one programme.

Application Deadline: 17 April 2026 (Friday), 2359hrs

About the National Centre for Writing (UK)

The National Centre for Writing (NCW), previously known as Writers’ Centre Norwich, has had a long history in working with writers and writing. As a major literary arts portfolio organisation in the UK, it is funded by the Arts Council England and has strong links with the British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT). Based in Norwich, one of the UNESCO Cities of Literature, NCW aims to be a physical and virtual space for writers, literary translators and those working in the world of literature to meet, learn and collaborate. In addition to their literary programming for the reading public, NCW organises workshops, mentoring and other opportunities for writers and translators at different stages in their career, and participates in projects that range from international partnerships to literary festivals. More details here: www.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk (opens in new tab)

Residency Funding

Details

Programme	Funding Details
In-Person Programme	The selected participants will receive a stipend to cover meals and have their airfare, lodging, transport, insurance and hospitality costs (to participate in the activities required by the programme) covered while they attend the residency.
Virtual Programme (part-time)	The selected participants will receive a stipend to work on their proposed project(s) and have their capability development costs (to participate in workshops / activities required by the programme) covered while they attend the residency.

For more details about the programme, please refer to the Application Guidelines [PDF, 197.56 KB] (opens in new tab)

Application Procedure

To apply, please:

Complete the Application Form (opens in new tab)
Submit the completed form by 17 April 2026 (Friday), 2359 hrs

Key Dates

Key programme dates

2026 Dates	Milestones
17 April 2026 (Friday), 2359hrs	Applications close
By early May 2026	Notification of results
June 2026	Start of virtual residency
July 2026/October 2026	In-person residency
December 2026	End of virtual residency

List of Past Participants

List

Year	Participants
2019 Physical Residency	• JY Neon Yang (fiction writer) • Jeremy Tiang (Chinese-English literary translator)
2020	None, due to COVID
2021 Virtual Residency; Jun-Dec 2021	• Nuraliah Norasid (fiction writer) • Jennifer Anne Champion (poet) • Nazry Bahrawi (Malay-English literary translator)
2022 Virtual Residency; Jun-Dec 2022	• Akshita Nanda (fiction writer) • Crispin Rodrigues (poet) • Daryl Qilin Yam (fiction writer)
2023 Physical Residency, Jun-Jul/Jul-Aug 2023; Virtual Residency, Jun-Dec 2023	Participants of Physical Residency: • Meihan Boey (fiction writer) • Wayne Rée (fiction writer) Participants of Virtual Residency: • Nur-El-Hudaa Jaffar (English-Malay translator) • Sim Wai-chew (Chinese-English translator) • Tse Hao Guang (poet)
2024 Physical Residency, July, September 2024, February 2025; Virtual Residency, Jun-Dec 2024	Participants of Physical Residency: • Christina Ng (Chinese-English translator) • Gabriel Wu (poet-writer) • Lee Wen-yi (fiction writer) Participants of Virtual Residency: • Jerrold Yam (poet) • Joyce Chua (fiction writer) • Lisabelle Tay (poet-writer) • Marylyn Tan (poet)
2025 Physical Residency, July, October 2025; Virtual Residency, Jun – Dec 2025	Participants of Physical Residency: • Clara Chow • Choo Yi Feng • Sithuraj Ponraj Participants of Virtual Residency: • Esther Vincent Xueming • Inbha • Melanie Lee

Annual Calendar of Literary Arts Residencies

Literary arts residencies throughout the year

Key Residencies	In-Person or Virtual	Country	Duration	Approximate Dates
National Centre for Writing Residency Programme	In-person	UK	1 month	Typically in June or July
National Centre for Writing Virtual Residency Programme	Virtual	Anywhere	7 months	From June to December
University of Iowa’s International Writing Program Fall Residency	In-person	USA	3 months	From late August to mid-November
National Centre for Writing Emerging Translator Mentorships Programme	Virtual & In-person (optional)	Anywhere / UK	6 months	From October to March
Sangam House	In-person	India	1 month	Between November to January