Open call for Artist’s Residence Dilsberg Grant

The Kulturstiftung Rhein-Neckar-Kreis and the UNESCO City of Literature Heidelberg invite authors from other UNESCO Cities of Literature to apply for the Writers in Residence Programme that will take place from 13th of April 2026 to 13th of July 2026.

Accommodation at the Dilsberg fortress near Heidelberg includes:

- Boarding fee
- Monthly allowance
- Travel costs

Duration of the scholarship is 3 months with residence obligation at Dilsberg fortress. At the end of the grant period there will be readings or presentations by the grant holder/s of their own texts or works.

Benefits & dates

- 13th of April to 13th of July 2026

 Total value max. € 3,750 per person:
- Boarding fee of € 1,350 per person (€ 15 per day)
- Monthly allowance of € 750 per person
- Cost absorption of travel expenses (international flights, economy class) in the amount of €1,000 maximum
- Public transportation ticket for the Rhine-Neckar transport network system (VRN) limited to the duration of the stay

Teams

Candidates have the possibility to apply as a two-team (grant holder and co-fellow), as 2 accommodation rooms are available (individual application is necessary).

The co-recipient should also have his/her own artistic expertise, which has not necessarily to be in the literary field (also music, visual arts, performing arts, film, etc.).

The co-grantee will be provided with the same financial resources as the grant holder.

*The apartment is not accessible for physically disabled person.

Application requirements

- Publication of at least one book (prose, essay, narration, poetry, etc.) by a book publisher.
- Good to very good knowledge of German and/or English language.
- Willingness to participate in local literary life (Dilsberg and/or Heidelberg) e.g. talks with protagonists of the regional literary scene arranged by the grant donors
- Registered residence in a UNESCO City of literature (grant holder)

Deadline for application is 17 September 2025.

The results will be announced by October 2025.

Application form

Contact

UNESCO City of Literature Heidelberg

unesco.creative.city@heidelberg.de

+49 6221 5833061 or +49 6221 583306

All information can be found in this file: Writer in Residence Dilsberg Heidelberg