Creative Opportunities
Through our UNESCO Cities of Literature Network, we’re able to offer writers, poets, graphic novelists, authors, & other creatives in Devon meaningful creative opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally.
If you are going to apply for any of these activities, please do contact us first to discuss your application so that we can support you as much as possible!
Want to get involved with Exeter City of Literature in your free time? You can join our lovely list of volunteers here >>
Writers’ Mailing list
We share these opportunities with our Writer’s Mailing List before they’re published to the website. We’ll also let you know about any other commissions and opportunities that we can’t share here.
DSP Residency Programme for Foreign Literary Intermediaries 2026
The DSP Residency Programme in 2026 is primarily intended for foreign literary intermediaries, namely translators, publishers, and literary agents who actively contribute to the international reception of Slovenian literature and the humanities.
Residency Programme Period: from 20 March to 30 November 2026
Duration of residency: From 2 to 3 weeks
Costs covered by the organiser: Accommodation for the duration of the residency
Obligations of the resident: Active participation in one literary event during the residency; preparation, submission, and publication of a short original text about the residency stay in Slovenia
Application deadline: March 12, 2026.
The Literary Map of Gdańsk Residency Programme
The Literary Map of Gdańsk Residency Programme, organised by the Gdańsk House of (Dom Literatury w Gdańsku) in Gdańsk UNESCO City of Literature, is open to artists from UNESCO Cities of Literature who are active in the fields of literature or visual arts. The objective is to create a new set of cards inspired by the life and work of Maria Janion to complement the pilot edition of the Literary Map of Gdańsk, issued in 2025.
The recruitment for the Programme will result in the selection of a creative duo: a writer and a visual artist who will be responsible for preparing the next edition of the Literary Map of Gdańsk together. Both duo applications and solo applications will be accepted, although priority is given to duos.
The residency stay may take from 2 to 5 weeks (with the possibility of dividing it into two shorter visits), between early April and mid-July 2026. The exact dates of the stay will be agreed directly with the duo selected in the recruitment.
The Residents participating in the programme are entitled to free-of-charge accommodation in a shared residency flat in Gdansk, a gross fee of PLN 1,100 a week, and substantive and logistical support. While in Gdańsk, they will also have an opportunity to participate in networking visits related to the residency and in events organised by the Gdańsk House of Literature.
Detailed description and evaluation criteria can be found in the residency programme terms and conditions and in the review forms attached to the recruitment available here.
Neurodivergent Voices
Open Mic
A free, special open mic evening at Exeter Mermaid to celebrate diverse voices, right in the heart of the city.
As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, and in collaboration with Exeter University, We Are ND Events will be handing the mic over to the neurodivergent community for an evening of spoken word.
We want to encourage more venues to think about neurodivergent needs and accessibility, and also to support neurodivergent performers by giving them a supportive and considerate environment to be able to perform.
Presented by Emily Way-Evans, Exeter resident, neurodivergent mother, writer and producer of the Festival of Neurodiversity, this will be a safe and supportive space for ND voices to be celebrated.
We will have a collective of neurodivergent Exeter residents and students who have prepared a piece to read, followed by an open mic opportunity for anyone who would like to contribute on the night.
Tickets are free thanks to funding from Exeter University. If you have any specific needs to be able to attend or read your work please contact the organisers (r.griffiths@exeter.ac.uk).
The Laureate of Words Show - March Submission Call
Now accepting audio submissions for March. The theme is surrealism. Send me your peculiarities, your juxtapositions, your dreams. I want you to come at me from leftfield and transport me into a unique space where down is up and right is left. As ever, interpret at will, and your submission can be as closely or loosely linked to the theme as you like. I accept all forms of creative writing, published or unpublished, including poetry, fiction, creative non fiction, script writing, hybrid – nothing’s off limits.
Submission guidelines:
www.rcthomasthings.bigcartel.com/fcr
Deadline: 22nd March, 12pm GMT
The Laureate of Words Show airs on the last Thursday of the month, 6pm - 8pm GMT on fcradio.co.uk.
My guests for Thursday 26th March will be Melisande Fitzsimons and Steve Spence. Plymouth poets with a penchant for the surreal.
Call-Out for Artists: Digital & Media Literacy Engagement Project
Libraries Unlimited is seeking artists and creative practitioners to design and deliver a fun, family-friendly, tourable activity exploring digital and media literacy.
The chosen activity will take place across four libraries in Devon and Torbay in Summer 2026. With a £2,600 fee and scope for imaginative, participatory approaches (from workshops to performances or installations), this is an opportunity to spark conversation around misinformation, online safety, and AI.
Applications close 23 March, 9am. For more info and to apply, go to: https://www.librariesunlimited.org.uk/digital-media-literacy-artist-call-out/
The Universes Poetry
This Exeter-based emerging journal publishes poetry, visual art and fiction. They are currently open for submissions of visual art, photography, flash fiction, essays and poetry for The Universes' Poetry second issue. This issue is marine/ocean themed, and every submission funds the planting of a tree.
Poetry (CURRENTLY OPEN FOR ISSUE TWO):
- Submissions must be emailed by PDF or Word Doc to theuniversespoetry@gmail.com. Please include no more than 10 poems per submission.
- Include a third person bio of no more than 100 words in the body of your email. If you would like to be tagged in any Instagram posts we make featuring your work, please also include your Instagram handle.
- We look favourably upon poets who have shown clear consideration of our theme. An optional short explanation of your work and why you feel it is a good fit for us in the body of your email is appreciated.
- We accept simultaneous submissions
- We accept work that have been previously published as long as you retain the rights and let us know!
Flash Fiction (CURRENTLY OPEN FOR ISSUE TWO):
- We occasionally accept flash fiction that is between 100 - 300 words.
- Submissions must be emailed by PDF or word doc to theuniversespoetry@gmail.com. Please include no more than 3 pieces of flash fiction per submission.
- Include a third person bio of no more than 100 words in the body of your email. If you would like to be tagged in any Instagram posts we make featuring your work, please also include your Instagram handle.
- We look favourably upon writers who have shown clear consideration of our theme. An optional short explanation of your work and why you feel it is a good fit for us in the body of your email is appreciated.
City Slam - Sign up to slam!
Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Spork! Poetry and Taking the Mic are joining forces once again to present the 4th annual City Slam; an exciting competition to find the best spoken-word artist in Exeter (and across Devon).
12 poets will battle it out across 3 rounds of fierce but friendly competition. With an exciting headliner TBA (watch this space!) and some featured guests as well.
The winner of the City Slam will be entered into Slamovision 2026; an international slam competition featuring poets from UNESCO Cities of Literature all across the world, as well as receiving a cash prize of £150. Runners up will also receive some exciting prizes provided by local businesses in Exeter.
Sign up to Slam!
To enter the slam, you need to register an interest by 5pm, Tue 31 Mar. The 12 Slammers will be chosen at random (if there are an excess of applicants ) and announced by Fri 03 Apr. To register, just send an email to Tim on slam@speakinsong.co.uk with your name, age, and where you’re based. Slammers must be aged 16+ and based in Devon.
The Rules
After registering, you’ll receive a full list of rules. But, in short, all slammers must prepare 3 poems / pieces for the 3 rounds. These pieces must not exceed 3 mins in length, and slammers may get penalised for going over (this includes any introductions.) The performances will be scored by a panel of judges, who will mark on writing, delivery, and the audience response. For any questions about the competition, email Chris on sporkpoetry@gmail.com.
State Library of Victoria’s
UNESCO Cities of Literature Fellowship
This fellowship is part of State Library Victoria's broader Fellowships Program and sits within the Research Fellowships stream. It aims to strengthen Melbourne's standing as a UNESCO City of Literature, foster interdisciplinary creative practice and research, promote exchange between Melbourne and other Cities of Literature globally, and showcase the State Library and its collections internationally. Applicants based in other UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world can apply.
The standard fellowship offer of $15,000, a dedicated desk at the Library for up to 3 months, and access to collections and staff expertise — plus return economy flights to/from Melbourne from their home city. Accommodation assistance is available through the Melbourne City of Literature office, but the cost is the fellow's own responsibility.
Key dates to note:
EOIs close: 9am AEST, 7 April 2026
Fellowship period: 1 August 2026 – 30 June 2027 (equivalent of 3 months, which can be split)
Call for papers | 5th International Conference
of the TULE Research Centre for Literary Tourism
University of Milano-Bicocca
22nd–24th October 2026
Conference theme: LITERARY CITIES
The aim of the conference is to bring together researchers working on the relationship between literature and tourism, both from a purely literary perspective and with a focus on tourism applied to the urban context.
The presentations will therefore focus on studies and research reflecting on the trilateral relationships between cities, tourism and literature, which may cover the following topics, without however excluding alternative proposals:
contemporary and historical urban literary sites and their promotion for tourism;
urban enhancement projects through literary tourism;
literary festivals and events in small, medium and large cities;
writers’ houses, literature museums and literary parks located in urban spaces;
literary flâneurs and literary flânerie in urban contexts;
literary tourism and slow cities;
textual corpora for literary tourism in cities;
development of tools for urban literary tourism: literary guides, literary itineraries, apps, etc.;
Cities, tourism and literary education;
Milan, BookCity and literary tourism.
ProposalsMay be written in Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese or English
Must be sent to literary.tourism@unimib.it by 15th April 2026 and must include:
- a brief CV of the applicant (max 100 words);
- the title and any subtitle of the proposed presentation;
- an abstract of the presentation (max 300 words);
- for doctoral students: a brief presentation written and signed by their supervisor..
Could you be the next Bard of Exeter?
The Bard represents the land & people for a year & a day with a bunch of perks plus some fancy blue robes chucked in!
Supported by Exeter Library, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Taking the Mic and Spork! Poetry. The Bardic role is a chance for you to make your mark on the city!
Previous Bards have gone on to win national slams, become the Poet Laureate for Exeter City FC, and present poetry internationally at COP26 (to name just a few achievements!)
Any poet, singer, storyteller, rapper, or wordsmith aged 16+ and from Devon can compete, with the winner chosen by public vote on Fri 29th May at a Bardic Competition, at Exeter Library.
To apply, please email current Bard Kev Payne on info@andonart.co.uk with:
Your location
Your age
A very short summary about why you’d like to be the Bard (no more than 50 words)
Bridport Prize 2026
Poetry. 1st Prize £5,000
You don’t have to be Tennyson Just talented | Up to 42 lines.
Short story. 1st Prize £5,000
Quick to read, impossible to forget | 5,000 words or less.
Flash Fiction. 1st Prize £1,000
The art of just enough | 250 words or less.
Novel. Winner £1,500 plus package
The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award | 8,000 words and a synopsis - initially.
Up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme (worth £2,640) and a detailed critique from the novel judge.
Runner-up £750 plus package
Full manuscript appraisal and Industry Day place from The Literary Consultancy.
Young Writer Award £500
For the highest placed writer aged 16 to 25 in poetry, short story, flash fiction and novel.
Never Too Late Award
This £500 award is given to the highest placed writer aged 60+ in Poetry, Short Story, Novel and Flash Fiction. The winning piece will feature in our anthology, which counts as being published and opens doors with literary agents and publishers. It also accesses other competitions not available to the public.
Publication
All winning poetry, short story, flash fiction and novel pieces are featured in our anthology, opening doors with literary agents and publishers and giving access to other competitions not available to the public.
Bursaries available
We have a robust scheme of bursaries available for under represented writers. No proof of income is required. Find out more here
Campfire – Exeter’s Quarterly Literary Salon
Location: The Refugee, below The Mermaid, Gandy Street, Exeter
When: TBA
Exeter’s newest quarterly literary salon, a welcoming space for writers and storytellers of all backgrounds and styles. Set in the intimate surroundings of The Refuge, located beneath The Mermaid cocktail bar on Gandy Street, Campfire offers a cozy environment where creativity can flourish and stories can come to life.
Each edition of Campfire centers around a prompt phrase, inspiring submissions of fiction, non-fiction, prose, poetry, or plays. The prompt can be taken literally or more of a jumping off point, it's all up to you. Writers are encouraged to submit works that can be read aloud within 10 minutes, allowing for a dynamic evening of storytelling and shared ideas.
At Campfire, we gather to listen, reflect, and engage in the timeless tradition of storytelling, celebrating the power of words to connect us all. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone finding your creative voice, this is your chance to contribute and be heard.
Submission Guidelines: Work must be inspired by the quarterly prompt phrase, with fiction, non-fiction, prose, poetry, or plays up to 10 minutes long when read aloud. Please email campfireexeter@gmail.com in advance if you are planning to come along and read so we can gauge the timings.
Next Prompt Phrase - TBA
Come share your story at Campfire—where the flicker of words and ideas will light up the room. For submissions or more information, contact us at campfireexeter@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @campfireexeter
Step into the circle, share your voice, and let your words kindle the conversation.
