Literary Arts - NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL – SANGAM HOUSE RESIDENCY 2025-2026

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 Sangam House provides a dedicated month-long writing retreat in Bangalore:

NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL – SANGAM HOUSE RESIDENCY 2025-2026

Open Call has concluded for the 2025-2026 programme.

The National Arts Council is pleased to partner with Sangam House in Bangalore, India, to offer a fully-paid, one-month-long residency for up to two Singapore Tamil writers in 2025-2026.

Residency Programme Dates:  For one month (1^st to 28^th November 2025 OR 2^nd to 30^th January 2026)

Application Deadline:  20 April 2025 (Sunday), 2359hrs

About the Residency: Sangam House provides visiting writers with the time and space to write, while giving them a chance to build a solid and influential network of personal and professional relationships that can deepen their own work, and in effect, expand and diversify literature. Their programme also facilitates interaction between the visiting writers and the local arts communities, cultivating an intersection that infuses the local communities with inspiration and new ideas, while allowing each participating writer to deepen their understanding of the diverse emotional and social climates in which literature is conceived and received. For more details: www.sangamhouse.org .

Residency Funding: The Writer-in-Residence will be awarded full residency support, including a per diem to cover incidental expenses not covered by Sangam House, and have their return economy airfare, visa fees, travel insurance, ground transport and residency fee (for housing and meals) covered while they attend the residency. The Writer-in-Residence also stands a chance of having their work translated to English to be featured in South Parade, a literary magazine published by Sangam House.

Application Procedure: To apply, please download the Application Form and Application Guidelines. All applications are to be submitted through email to Hafizah_BEEVI@nac.gov.sg and must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:

1. Completed application form;
2. A brief (two pages, maximum) curriculum vitae of applicant, focusing on applicant’s literary works.
3. A brief (one page, maximum) description of the work to be undertaken while at Sangam House.

   Note: This work must be original. But it can be at any stage of development.

4. A Tamil writing sample, of no more than 50 pages. (Please indicate if the work has been published or is unpublished. If it has been published, please provide publication details.)

   Note: Writing sample does not have to be in English. Please submit your writing sample in its original language (i.e. Tamil). However, all other documentation and application form must be submitted in English.