Writing in the Margins: Two Literary Residencies

The Alasdair Gray Archive (AGA) and The Agnes Owens Archive (AOA), supported by the Creative Scotland Open Fund for Organisations, invite applications for two eight-month writer residencies in 2026. Under the theme Neglected Voices, writers will explore how class, gender, and social expectation intersect in the works of Alasdair Gray and Agnes Owens. Residents will create new short fiction responding to the archives, engaging with themes such as overlooked histories, feminism, motherhood, body horror, the domestic, and more, through both creative development and public engagement.

Each residency offers a total fee of £12,000 (£11,000 residency + £1,000 travel support) for approximately one week of work per month, with flexibility for hybrid or in-person participation in Glasgow. We are seeking established writers with an interest in archival material, public engagement, and the short story form. Applications are due by 4 December 2025 at 5PM and should include a cover letter, CV, sample of written work, and responses to the selection criteria. Please send applications to sorcha@thealasdairgrayarchive.org

The writers will be selected via a shortlisting and interview process involving Sorcha Dallas (Custodian of The Alasdair Gray and The Agnes Owens Archive), Chitra Ramaswamy (author and journalist) and Dr Rodge Glass (Creative Writing at The University of Strathclyde).