Shortlisted Candidates for European Literary Map Residency Announced

The Residency is offered in the context of an ongoing UCL European Institute project, the European Literary Map of London (ELML), an interactive online Map, featuring over 80 text extracts about London, originally written in over 20 European languages. The ELML shows the experiences of European writers who have transformed, and been transformed by, London through the ages. It brings literary texts about London by European writers, artists and intellectuals into dialogue with one another across space and time.

The European Literary Map of London Writer in Residency programme is offered to one writer for four weeks, to be taken (ideally) in the period between 17 April – 22^nd May. The selected Writer in Residence will be based at UCL, and embedded at UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities, with full access to UCL facilities, as well as receiving London accommodation courtesy of the Goethe-Institut London, travel and support from EUNIC London, and a one-off honorarium from UCL.

The nominated writer will engage and exchange with UCL’s intellectual community (staff, students and local schools), actively collaborate with UCL’s European Literary London project and be asked to produce an original piece of writing (essay, short story, poem) on London and relating to one or more of the Map’s key themes (Poverty & Plenty, Nature & Noise; Fantasy & Banality; Pleasure & Disgust; Familiar & Other; Freedom & Constraint), to be translated into English – and featured on the European Literary Map.

The public Call for Submissions to the Residency was made in January 2025 through the combined forces of UCL, the European Literature Network and EUNIC London.

112 writers from all over Europe sent in applications. Each application was read and evaluated by journalist Rosie Goldsmith, Director of the European Literature Network, longlists drawn up and discussed with UCL faculty heads and the EUNIC London Presidency. The shortlist of 10 writers is a unanimous decision. All 10 authors demonstrate thrilling literary originality and strong engagement with UCL, the European Literary Map and with London itself.

The 2025 Writer in Residence finalist will be selected from the shortlist and decided jointly by all partners. The finalist will be announced on February 14^th.

SHORTLIST: UCL European Literary London Writer in Residency

The 10 shortlisted authors are, in alphabetical order:

CIARA BRODERICK – IRELAND

KATA GYŐRFI – ROMANIA

NISRINE MBARKI – NETHERLANDS

ELENA MEDEL – SPAIN

DOMAS RAIBYS – LITHUANIA

REGINA REX – DENMARK

AIJA SAKOVA – ESTONIA

TONE SCHUNNESSON – SWEDEN

IRYNA SHUVALOVA – UKRAINE

JACKIE THOMAE – GERMANY

Thank you to all the writers who took part. We were genuinely overwhelmed by the quality of the applications and your boundless talent and ideas, making this a very difficult decision. The interest generated by the UCL’s Writer in Residence programme, and its associated projects, shows how important the UK’s cultural ties with Europe are.

The announcement of the finalist will on Friday 14^th February will be made public across the media platforms of UCL, European Literature Network and EUNIC London.

Any queries about the Residency or the shortlisted authors please email Rosie Goldsmith at rosie@rosiegoldsmith.com, copying in contact@eunic-london.org.