Region honoured to host writing residency

A NATIONAL fellowship for Scottish writers is, for the first time, to be hosted in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship will work with the DG Unlimited creative and cultural network to award a mid-career writer with a literacy residency to develop new work.

And DG Unlimited will support the chosen Fellow to plan a structured year of support and activity, guided by the broad theme: UNFOLDING Scotland.

Scotland-based writers of fiction or creative non-fiction, hybrid writing, spoken word, and experimental or graphic fiction can apply for the residency now, to begin in March, with a stipend of £24,000 to support them through their 12-months.

The Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship was established in 2014 honouring the loss of Creative Scotland colleague, Dr Wallace, who dedicated his entire professional life to helping writers and literature organisations in Scotland.

Mary Paulson-Ellis, Helen Sedgwick, Maisie Chan, Rachelle Atalla, Jenni Fagan and most recently, Karine Polwart are just some of the previous fellows.

Tabitha Mudaliar, DG Unlimited’s creative director said: “We’re honoured to host the 2026 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow. Our aim is to create a welcoming environment and respect the Fellow’s autonomy while surrounding them with encouragement, connection, and professional opportunity.

“The DG Unlimited team will ensure the Fellow’s year is defined by creative freedom, supportive dialogue, and a deep sense of belonging to Scotland’s living, diverse cultural landscape. In doing so, we will honour the spirit of the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship by giving a writer the space to write, reflect, and imagine, and ensure that their voice contributes to the evolving story of who we are as a nation.”

Beth Cochrane, from Creative Scotland said: “Each year, the fellowship and its host provide a rare and unique opportunity for established writers in Scotland to have the space to hugely further their work and development. DG Unlimited joins a stellar line-up of host organisations and, with their strong track record of supporting artists’ careers at all stages, they’re well placed to create another successful residency.”

The host is particularly keen to hear from writers who identify as belonging to any ethnic minority group, LGBTQIA+, have protected characteristics or recently become residents in Scotland.

For further information about the residency and how to apply, visit the DG Unlimited website. The deadline for applications is 5 pm on Monday February 9.