Jerwood Foundation supports Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies

Jerwood Foundation is supporting Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies through its award of a total grant of £40,000. This bespoke talent development programme will give 12 emerging writers the opportunity to bring a project to completion, whether this is the complete first draft of a novel or non-fiction work or stage play; a story or essay collection; a poetry pamphlet or collection.

Over the course of an 18-month residency, each participant will have the time and space to develop their writing through attending residential and online Arvon courses, quarterly one-to-one tutorials, and industry advice sessions. The expert guidance and support from Arvon tutors will enable each resident writer to hone their craft and find their voice to bring an unseen manuscript to a visible presence in the writing world.

This new programme builds upon Jerwood’s longstanding relationship with Arvon through the Jerwood Arvon Mentoring Programme, which launched the careers of 84 writers across three forms of writing including fiction, poetry and playwriting.

The inaugural Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies will run from January 2026 to July 2027 and will build upon the success of previous programmes by evolving a unique and successful cross-genre and multidisciplinary model.

Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee Jerwood Foundation said:

I am delighted to be building upon this longstanding relationship with Arvon through the Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies. This bespoke programme will provide 12 promising writers working across different genres the support and opportunity they need to take a critical step in the development of their career, which underlines Jerwood’s commitment to supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK.

Andrew Kidd Hon FRSL, Arvon CEO said:

We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this funding from Jerwood Foundation. At a time when writers are navigating an array of challenges, supporting and championing emerging talent has never been more crucial. The Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies will nurture an exceptional cohort of writers working across a range of disciplines and we are excited to embark on this new partnership.

 Arvon is the UK’s leading creative writing charity. For over 55 years, Arvon’s creative writing courses have been linking successful authors with aspiring writers, and they are a significant and celebrated part of the British literary landscape. Arvon passionately believes that everyone can benefit from the transformative power of creative writing. It hosts residential, online and community-based writing courses and events reaching over 6,000 participants each year.

For further information please visit Arvon.

October 8, 2025