The Residency is offered in the context of an ongoing UCL European Institute project, the European Literary Map of London (ELML), an interactive online Map, featuring over 80 text extracts about London, originally written in over 20 European languages. The ELML shows the experiences of European writers who have transformed, and been transformed by, London through the ages. It brings literary texts about London by European writers, artists and intellectuals into dialogue with one another across space and time.
The European Literary Map of London Writer in Residency programme is offered to one writer for four weeks, to be taken (ideally) in the period between 17 April – 22nd May. The selected Writer in Residence will be based at UCL, and embedded at UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, with full access to UCL facilities, as well as receiving London accommodation courtesy of the Goethe-Institut London, travel and support from EUNIC London, and a one-off honorarium from UCL.
The nominated writer will engage and exchange with UCL’s intellectual community (staff, students and local schools), actively collaborate with UCL’s European Literary London project and be asked to produce an original piece of writing (essay, short story, poem) on London and relating to one or more of the Map’s key themes (Poverty & Plenty, Nature & Noise; Fantasy & Banality; Pleasure & Disgust; Familiar & Other; Freedom & Constraint), to be translated into English – and featured on the European Literary Map.
The public Call for Submissions to the Residency was made in January 2025 through the combined forces of UCL, the European Literature Network and EUNIC London.
112 writers from all over Europe sent in applications. Each application was read and evaluated by journalist Rosie Goldsmith, Director of the European Literature Network, longlists drawn up and discussed with UCL faculty heads and the EUNIC London Presidency. The shortlist of 10 writers is a unanimous decision. All 10 authors demonstrate thrilling literary originality and strong engagement with UCL, the European Literary Map and with London itself.
The 2025 Writer in Residence finalist will be selected from the shortlist and decided jointly by all partners. The finalist was announced on February 17th. Irish writer Ciara Broderick was nominated to be the UCL’s 2025 European Literary Map of London Writer in Residence.
The 10 shortlisted authors for the nomination were (in alphabetical order):
SHORTLIST: UCL European Literary London Writer in Residency
CIARA BRODERICK – IRELAND
KATA GYŐRFI – ROMANIA
NISRINE MBARKI – NETHERLANDS
ELENA MEDEL – SPAIN
DOMAS RAIBYS – LITHUANIA
REGINA REX – DENMARK
AIJA SAKOVA – ESTONIA
TONE SCHUNNESSON – SWEDEN
IRYNA SHUVALOVA – UKRAINE
JACKIE THOMAE – GERMANY