Brussels to Karoo / Brussel tot Karoo

Brussels to Karoo: The Jakes Gerwel Foundation and Passa Porta’s annual writers’ residency

(Afrikaans follows below)

The Jakes Gerwel Foundation (JGF) and Passa Porta welcome submissions for their annual writers’ residency Brussels to Karoo, which takes place in KwaNojoli (Somerset East) in the Eastern Cape.

Jakes Gerwel obtained his doctorate in literature and philosophy from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium. It is against this backdrop that the Foundation partners with Passa Porta, an international literature house in Brussels, to bring together writers from different continents to share two weeks of uninterrupted time to write.

In this way, we want to encourage dialogue and cross-pollination in the written work of writers from different backgrounds, thereby striving to enrich the body of literature here and abroad.

Successful candidates will be hosted at the historic Paulet House, the Foundation’s charming home away from home for writers from 18 to 30 March 2024.

Together with Flemish authors Gerda Dendooven and Nele Van den Broeck, the candidates can look forward to enjoying the spacious home with its lush gardens, the charming town, the peace and quiet of the surroundings and the company of fellow writers.

If you would like to be part of this exciting collaboration, here is the link to apply online: https://jgf.org.za/application-brussels-karoo/

Your application should include the following:

• Motivation letter
• Clear overview of writing project
• Examples of current and previous work
• Note: A letter from a publisher interested in publishing your work will count strongly in your favour.

Requirements and important dates:

• Open to both emerging and established writers
• Application deadline: 8 December 2023
• Announcement of successful candidates: 12 February 2024
• When applying, candidates must confirm availability for the residency period: 18 to 30 March 2024

The residency includes:

• National return tickets to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), if needed
• Transport between the airport and Somerset East
• A comfortable “room with a view” of your own
• Housekeeping services
• Delicious meals prepared by the Foundation’s resident chef
• Unlimited access to the internet
• Writing space in your room, in quiet spots inside the house and in the garden
• Opportunity to write without the interruption of loadshedding

About the programme:

The Jakes Gerwel Foundation continues to build on the considerable legacy of the late professor Jakes Gerwel, who excelled as educator, liberator, patron of the arts and businessperson.

Read more about

Jakes Gerwel Foundation at www.jgf.org.za
Passa Porta at www.passaporta.be

Brussel tot Karoo: Die Jakes Gerwel Stigting en Passa Porta se jaarlikse skrywersresidensie

Die Jakes Gerwel Stigting (JGS), in medewerking met Passa Porta, verwelkom aansoeke van skrywers vir die jaarlikse residensieprogram Brussel tot Karoo.

Jakes Gerwel het sy doktorsgraad in literatuur en filosofie aan die Vrije Universiteit Brussel in België voltooi. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond wat die Stigting hande neem met Passa Porta, ’n internasionale literatuurhuis in Brussel, om skrywers van verskeie wêrelddele byeen te bring.

Sodoende wil ons graag kruisbestuiwing tussen die werk van skrywers uit verskillende agtergronde teweegbring en die letterkunde – hier en elders – verruim.

Die Brussel tot Karoo-residensie vind plaas vanaf  18 tot 30 Maart 2024 by die 200 jaar oue Paulet Huis, die Stigting se skrywershuis wat geleë is in die sjarmante KwaNojoli (Somerset-Oos) in die Oos-Kaap.

Suksesvol kandidate sal by Vlaamse skrywers Gerda Dendooven en Nele Van den Broeck aansluit vir twee weke se onverstoorde skryftyd by Paulet Huis met sy lowerryke tuine, die sjarmante dorp, die stilte en rustigheid wat die omgewing bied en die bonus van die geselskap van medeskrywers.

Jou aansoek moet die volgende insluit:

• Motiveringsbrief
• Duidelike uiteensetting van skryfprojek
• Voorbeelde van huidige en vorige werk
• Let wel: ’n Brief van ’n uitgewer wat daarin belangstel om jou werk te publiseer, sal sterk in jou guns tel.

Vereistes en belangrike datums:

• Beskikbaar vir beide opkomende en gevestigde skrywers
• Sluitingsdatum: 8 Desember 2023
• Aankondiging van suksesvolle kandidate: 12 Februarie 2024
• Kandidate moet reeds met inskrywing bevestig dat hy/sy beskikbaar is vir die residensietydperk: 18 tot 30 Maart 2024

As jy wil deel wees van hierdie opwindende samewerking, waarvan alle kostes gedek word, kan jy aanlyn aansoek doen by die volgende skakel: https://jgf.org.za/af/aansoek-brussel-karoo/

Die skryfprogram sluit in:

• Nasionale retoerkaartjies na Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), indien nodig
• Vervoer tussen die lughawe en Somerset-Oos
• ’n Gerieflike, eie “room with a view”
• Die Stigting se inwonende sjef se heerlike maaltye
• Skoonmaakdienste
• Onbeperkte toegang tot die internet
• Genoeg spasie vir skryf in jou kamer, stil hoekies in die huis en die tuin
• Geleentheid om sonder die onderbreking van beurtkrag te skryf

Meer oor die program:

Die Jakes Gerwel Stigting bou voort op die noemenswaardige nalatenskap van wyle professor Jakes Gerwel, wat uitgeblink het as opvoeder, bevryder, beskermheer van die kunste en sakepersoon.

Lees meer oor:

Die Jakes Gerwel Stigting by jgf.org.za
Passa Porta by www.passaporta.be