Introduction
Are you an aspiring writer, aged 18-24, with a passion for contemporary art? Discover your creative potential as the Young Writer in Residence for 2024.
About the Residency
Are you aged 18-24 and fascinated by contemporary art and creative writing? Whether you consider yourself an artist, writer, or an innovator of the written word, our Young Writer in Residence program presents a unique opportunity to refine your writing skills within the context of a contemporary art gallery.
Application Process
Submit your original written works that respond to the artworks featured in our Autumn 2023 Exhibition Season. This could be a poem, essay, article, experimental prose, or any other creative expression. The selected entry will secure a residency spanning from late January to April 2023.
Application Deadline: December 4th, 9 am
Ensure your submission does not exceed 800 words and remains previously unpublished. While we aim to provide brief feedback for all entries, it may not be feasible in the case of a high volume of submissions.
Winners Announcement: January 2023
The winning entry and runners-up will be unveiled in January 2023.
Prizes
- The winner will enjoy a £50 voucher for Whitechapel Gallery’s Koenig Bookshop and have their work featured on the Whitechapel Gallery website.
- Runners-up will also receive a £50 voucher and have their work showcased on our website.
Eligibility
If you’re aged 18-24 and have an affinity for contemporary art, you’re eligible to apply. We’re particularly interested in submissions from residents of Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Barking & Dagenham, especially from underrepresented backgrounds in the arts. Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK.
About the Young Writer in Residence Program
Since 2009, Whitechapel Gallery has been welcoming writers and artists to become Writers in Residence. The Young Writer in Residence initiative, a sibling program, offers early-career creatives who prioritize writing in their practice the chance to engage in a season-long residency to enhance their craft.
Young Writer in Residence Benefits
The Young Writer in Residence will receive:
- A residency fee of £500
- A commission to create a new short piece of writing, to be published on the Whitechapel Gallery website and, where agreed, in a partner publication.
- The opportunity to curate an event at the Gallery as part of our Young Creatives Night.
- Complimentary tickets to exhibitions and public program events throughout their residency season.
- Meetings with Whitechapel Gallery staff and relevant program partners to facilitate the Young Writer in Residence’s career development.


