Services

Bursaries

Bursaries are awarded to support writers creating new work in the following genres: novels, short stories, poetry, literary criticism and factual prose of literary merit. Writing which does not fit neatly into these categories can also be considered. Plays are not eligible under this service. Bursaries will not be awarded to assist work on a thesis or any other piece of formal academic research. Applications may be made in more than one category.

There are 5 different bursaries available in two categories, Buying Time Bursaries and Enabling Bursaries:

Buying Time Bursaries:

1. New Writers’ Bursaries can be awarded to writers who have not previously published a volume of their work. At least 10,000 words of prose of work-in-progress or 15 poems must be submitted with your application. If you have had work published in anthologies and periodicals, please send samples with your application - one copy of each item.
Maximum award: £10,000

2. Published Writers’ Bursaries are for writers who have already published a volume or more of work. At least 4,000 words of work-in-progress OR 8 poems must be submitted with your application. Please send one copy of a sample volume with your application. These will be returned if requested.
Maximum award: £10,000

3. Children’s Writers’ Bursary are intended for writers for children and young people in Welsh and English. The Academi is keen to encourage the following in particular:
i. English-language writers whose work has a Welsh background
ii. Writers producing longer novels in the Welsh language.
Applicants should provide a representative selection of the work-in-progress.
Maximum award: £10,000

Enabling Bursaries:

4. Enabling Bursaries for specialist equipment (For Disabled Writers only) are awarded to assist Disabled Writers. Examples can include aid for the following:
i. to purchase specialist equipment
ii. to assist with particular travel costs
iii. towards secretarial assistance such as editorial work, typing, printing etc.
iv. for training opportunities relevant to your writing
The Academi can also consider applications for assistance with other issues affecting disabled writers.
Maximum award: £2,000

5. The Miscellaneous Fund can offer small-scale support related to specific writing projects. Examples include travel costs, research, work in other languages, childcare, renting quiet space to write and other items. Capital grants (such as the purchasing of computers) are not available from this fund.
Maximum award: £2,000

Eligibility

Plays are not eligible under this service.

Bursaries will not be awarded to assist work on a thesis or any other piece of formal academic research.

If you have received an Academi Writer’s Bursary during the last two years (2008 and 2009 Bursaries), you may not apply this year.

Recipients of Welsh Books Council commissioning grants are ineligible for funding under the Academi Writers’ Bursaries service.

There are no capital grants under this service, except for disabled writers.

Further information
Applications may be made by writers working in any language, who are resident in Wales at the time of their application and who will continue to reside in Wales throughout the duration of the Bursary [periods of research travel do not affect our definition of your permanent address].

For bursaries aimed at buying time, applicants must ensure that they are able take the time out if they are successful. You should check your position with your employer before applying.

The earliest date the Academi 2010 Writers’ Bursaries may start is 1 March 2010. Bursaries must be completed by 31 March 2011.  Bursary periods will begin on the first of a month.

For bursaries aimed at buying time, the amount awarded is partly linked with loss of income during the bursary period, whether waged or unwaged. The application asks you to estimate this figure. We will require a verified statement of income if your application is successful. The usual period of a bursary is between 1 and 6 months.

You will need to clarify with the Inland Revenue any personal tax implications of a bursary award. Applicants should seek professional advice on this matter.

For bursaries aimed at capital purchases (for disabled writers only), research, travel etc. the Inland Revenue is likely to calculate a tax liability. Again, applicants should seek professional advice on this matter.

Any work begun, developed or completed under the terms of the bursary award must carry an acknowledgement to the Academi. The exact wording must be discussed with the Academi before publication. The Academi is not responsible for publication grants. Queries in this area should be directed to the Welsh Books Council, Castell Brychan, Aberystwyth, SY23 2JB (01970 624151 www.wbc.org.uk or e-mail them at wbc.grants@wbc.org.uk). The Academi maintains a list of publishers (on this site) and you may also wish to cross-refer to the Academi’s Mentoring Service for Writers and Publishers, for which separate guidelines are available.

Successful bursary recipients will be required to send a brief mid-term report to the Academi together with a sample of work-in-progress. The Academi appreciates that progress may be slow, however we nevertheless need to see examples of what the bursary is buying. The final payment will be released on receipt of an end-of-term report. At this point we shall require to see evidence of work achieved, whether successful or not. Academi will ask for complimentary copies of any work published as a result of the bursary.

The Academi wishes to welcome into Associate Membership all successful bursary recipients. If not already a member, Academi will enrol the recipient and deduct the annual subscription of £15 from the bursary cheque. Benefits of membership include a wide range of discounts on events and services as well as the ability to stay in touch with the literature scene in Wales.

Academi welcomes enquiries regarding any matter of detail concerning your application.

If you have any particular difficulties in completing an application, please let us know and we shall arrange alternative ways for you to apply for a bursary.

The 2009 Academi Writers’ Bursaries were announced in March 2009.
Click here to find out who has been awarded a bursary in 2009

The closing date for applications for 2010 Bursaries:
Saturday 31 October 2009

The Adjudication Timetable is as follows:
The Bursaries Panel will assess the bursary applications during the period November 2009 and January 2010. The Bursaries Panel will meet in February 2010. Every applicant will be individually informed by letter of the Bursary Panel’s decision. It is anticipated that the names of successful bursary recipients will be announced in March 2010.

There is an annual deadline for Academi Writers’ Bursaries. The next closing date is Saturday 31 October 2009 for the 2010 Academi Writers’ Bursaries.

It is anticipated that application forms for 2010 bursaries will be available in July 2009.
For informtion only, click on the link in the box at the foot of this page to download the application form for the 2009 Bursaries. For information only - do not use for 2010 bursaries.

Academi Writers’ Bursaries
The Academi
Chief Executive Peter Finch
Mount Stuart House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff CF10 5FQ
tel: 029 2047 2266
fax: 029 2049 2930
post@academi.org

The Academi is the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency and Society for Writers. Registered Charity Number 506402. The Academi works with the support of the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.