The Dutch Foundation for Literature invites applications from Irish writers to join the Dwaalgasten (Wanderers) exchange project, a collaboration between West Cork Literary Festival and Meet Me At The Lighthouse festival in the Netherlands.

Taking place 12–15 November 2026 on the island of Schiermonnikoog, the project is produced by Modern Culture and supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature. Two Irish writers will be selected to visit the festival, with two Dutch writers making a reciprocal visit to West Cork Literary Festival in July 2027.

About the Project

Under the theme of Dwaalgasten (Wanderers), the exchange will encourage responses to landscape, place, ecology and the unique settings in which the festivals are located.

At each festival, the visiting writers will be invited to take part in events, to explore the landscape and to respond to a commission inspired by the festival’s setting and themes.

About Meet Me At The Lighthouse

Meet Me At The Lighthouse is a literature festival on the island of Schiermonnikoog, at the northern tip of Friesland, in the Netherlands, marking its fifth anniversary in 2026. The festival is deeply rooted in its community, and its programme is curated for and with the island. It offers a broad programme that includes other art forms such as music and visual arts, while always placing literature and the printed word at its centre.

Nature, sustainability, climate, tourism and identity are recurring themes — themes which also resonate deeply in West Cork.

The 2026 festival theme of Dwaalgasten (Wanderers) refers to those who wander, who get lost, but also to those whose unexpected presence changes a place, a story, or an encounter. It is an invitation to be surprised by voices from other worlds, by stories that take us to places we never expected to go.

About Schiermonnikoog

Schiermonnikoog is a serene island in the Wadden Sea, part of the province of Friesland, home to a pristine National Park and wide, unspoiled beaches. Accessible only by a 45-minute passenger ferry from Lauwersoog, it has one picturesque village and a permanent population of around 950 residents. The island has strong links with Leeuwarden, UNESCO City of Literature, close by in Friesland.

Travel, Accommodation and Fees

The project will cover return economy class travel from Ireland to the Netherlands (or equivalent travel for an Irish writer based outside of Ireland) up to the value of €500.

Writers will also receive a combined fee and stipend of €1,000, broken down as follows:

Stipend: €300 (paid before the festival)

Event fees: €400 (paid after the festival)

Commission fee: €300 (paid after the festival)

Travel and accommodation will be booked by Modern Culture, in consultation with the writers. Writers should arrange their own travel and health insurance.

Travel to Schiermonnikoog and accommodation there will be fully accessible for writers with disabilities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are welcome from Irish writers writing in Irish or English

Irish writers are defined as writers originally from or normally resident on the island of Ireland

Writers should have a minimum of one book published by a UK or Irish publisher

Applications are welcome from writers working in any genre

There will be two successful applicants — writers should apply on an individual basis

Writers must be available for the entire duration of the visit (five nights, arriving 11 November and departing 15 November 2026)

Applications are particularly welcome from writers from global majority backgrounds

How to Apply

Send a proposal document (up to two sides of A4) to Martin Colthorpe at martin@modernculture.co.uk with the subject line: Dwaalgasten / Wanderers — Festival Exchange Project

Your proposal should include:

An outline of why you would benefit from visiting Meet Me At The Lighthouse at this point in your career

An outline of why you are interested in the themes of place and identity, landscape and ecology in your writing

An idea for a festival event, workshop or activity which responds to Schiermonnikoog as a location and to the festival themes

Details of your published writing to date, across all genres

Please also send as separate documents:

A CV and short biographical statement

Applications will be assessed by a selection committee comprising representatives of West Cork Literary Festival, Meet Me At The Lighthouse, Modern Culture and the Dutch Foundation for Literature.
Download the full Call for Applications PDF

Deadline

Monday 27 July 2026 at 18:00 (Irish time / BST)

Successful applicants will be notified by the beginning of August.

Partners
Nederlands Letterenfonds / Dutch Foundation for Literature | Modern Culture | West Cork Literary Festival | Meet Me At The Lighthouse | New Dutch Writing]