OPEN CALL: CELA is looking for writers!

25 Apr OPEN CALL: CELA is looking for writers!

Connecting Emerging Literary Artists (CELA) is an international talent development project co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the EU. CELA connects emerging writers from 11 European countries with emerging translators through masterclasses, sample translations, mentorship, presentations and live meetings. The project aims to offer literary artists from small language markets in Europe a level playing field to establish an international career, reach an international audience and develop their professional skills.

For the third edition of CELA, Association KROKODIL is looking for 3 emerging writers to take part from September 2024 to December 2025.

What do we offer:

• translation of a sample from your most recent book into 10 European languages;
• publication of this sample on the CELA website and other literary platforms across Europe;
• 2 international online masterclasses on relevant professionalisation topics;
• mentorship programme;
• professional communication tool kit with headshot and artist bio;
• 1 live national team meeting in Belgrade;
• 1 live project-wide work week in Turin, Italy (January 29 to February 2 2025);
• 1 visit to a literary festival in one of the participating countries to present your sample text together with your translator;
• connection to an international network of more than 300 writers, translators and literary organisations in Europe.

What do we ask:

• you are a writer of prose (fiction and non-fiction both apply) in BCMS language;
• you have published a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 works of prose (fiction or nonfiction both apply) with a national quality publishing house;
• you have preferably followed literature and/or writing courses and have considerable writing skills, experience and expertise;
• your (published) work has not been translated into more than 1 of the participating languages;
• you are willing and able to prioritize your participation in this project, you can make the time and (head)space to dedicate focus to the activities and you are able and willing to communicate with partner organisations and other participants (the common project language is English).

Do you not match these criteria at this moment? We will call for more writers to participate in the fall of 2025. Sign up for the CELA newsletter to receive updates.

Participation in this project is free of charge, but not free of commitment. CELA covers travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for live activities.

We can implement this project through elaborate funding applications and the dedicated work of all partner organisations:

Next Page Foundation (Bulgaria)

Book Arsenal (Ukraine)

deBuren (Belgium)

Passa Porta (Belgium)

Scuola Holden (Italy)

Krakow Festival Office (Poland)

FILIT (Romania)

KROKODIL (Serbia)

GOGA (Slovenia)

Escuela de Escritores (Spain)

Czech Literary Centre (Czech Republic)

Wintertuin (The Netherlands, also project coordinator)

Each organisation will select writers and translators to be your peers in this project. This will amount to a network of 132 international literary artists.

Are you interested in participating? Be encouraged to apply now!

Your application should consist of 3 documents :

• a relevant and current resume (maximum 1 A4) that has at least: your full name, contact details, where you currently live and work, and relevant information about your practice as a writer and your education;
• a motivation letter (maximum 1 A4) that explains why you should be considered as a candidate for CELA and what you hope to gain from it;

• a sample from your most recent novel (maximum 2500 words), that could also function as the representative text in the project.

Send your application to prijave@krokodil.rs with the subject ‘CELA open call’ and add your documents in pdf.

Deadline: May 15, 2024 at 23:59 CET.

If you have any questions, check the CELA website or reach out to prijave@krokodil.rs.