Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Trust Announce The Rush Cottage Writers’ Residency

Hawke’s Bay Readers & Writers Trust, in conjunction with Black Barn Retreats, is excited to announce a brand new residency for Aotearoa writers. 

Applications are invited from writers who are currently resident in Aotearoa, working on any of the following forms: short stories, the novel, poetry, creative non-fiction, memoir and graphic novels. Applicants will need to have one work already published/self-published that is currently publicly available to Aotearoa readers, and provide a link to this in their application.

The residency includes nine free nights’ accommodation at Rush Cottage, which have been generously donated by Black Barn Retreats, and a stipend of NZD$1000 (including GST) to support the writer’s time. Entries close 5pm, 31 May, and are capped to the first 50 received.

Catherine Robertson, Chair of Hawke’s Bay Readers & Writers Trust, says, “We’re so grateful to Black Barn Retreats for this incredibly generous gift to New Zealand writers. Our Trust committee has four authors on it, so we know how scarce and valuable residencies are for writers, and we couldn’t think of a more heavenly place to write than historic Rush Cottage. We’re excited to bring our successful applicant to Hawke’s Bay, and hope that between writing, they’ll be able to get out and experience what our beautiful region has to offer.”

The residency must be taken any Tuesday night to the following Wednesday night inclusive, between 18 June and 31 August 2024. Catherine Robertson says: “The timings are tight this year, so applicants will need to be quick, especially as we’re capping the number at the first fifty. All going well, we plan to open entries earlier in coming years.”

All information can be found here

Or email hbreadersandwriters@gmail.com