Further Information

The Iceland Writers Retreat is a series of cultural tours and writing workshops led by acclaimed authors from around the world. This project is designed to raise funds to enable us to grant a single need- and merit-based award for an international recipient to attend the event in Reykjavik. We have met our goal for this, and are now saving to be able to include flights to/from Iceland with the award and/or save for a second grant!

The Iceland Writers Retreat (www.icelandwritersretreat.com) is a unique gathering of people from around the world to meet in Reykjavík -- a UNESCO City of Literature -- and develop their writing from world-renowned authors in the company of like-minded people.

We, the Founding Directors and alumni of the IWR, wish to create an award to allow an individual to attend the event free of charge. Many excellent writers who stand to benefit a lot from attending simply cannot afford to attend.

Anyone who is aged 18 or over on April 13, 2016 (the first day of IWR) will be eligible to apply for the award. The winning candidate must demonstrate that s/he does not have the financial means to attend the conference without this award. Candidates do not need to be professional writers, but should be serious about the craft and interested in developing their skills and contacts. Their writing interests should fit well with the faculty for the 2016 retreat (i.e. literary fiction, non-fiction, memoir).

The award recipient will be chosen by a panel of IWR alumni and the two Founding Directors.

The recipient will be chosen based on two factors: a) The potential s/he demonstrates (or has demonstrated) as a writer and b) their need for financial support to be able to attend. The applicant should also be able to demonstrate how s/he would use their knowledge gained after the event and how s/he would help to promote the IWR after the fact.

We are hoping that alumni and other friends of the IWR will consider contributing to this cause, to enable a deserving candidate to have the opportunity to attend this event.

If we surpass our goals, of course we will work to support a second award!