Atelier Samuel Beckett: Irish Writer and French Translator in Residence 2025

A Literature Ireland and Centre National du Livre initiative, supported by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Atelier Samuel Beckett is a dedicated artist residency in France founded by Judy Hegarty Lovett and Conor Lovett of the Gare St. Lazare Players who are world-renowned for their stage interpretations of Beckett’s work. In an exciting new Franco-Irish collaboration, the Atelier Samuel Beckett invites an Irish writer and a French translator to apply for a four-week funded residency at the Atelier to consider Beckett’s legacy in relation to their own practice.

This project is a pilot initiative, supported by Atelier Samuel Beckett, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Centre National du Livre, and Literature Ireland.  The Irish writer and French translator, selected by the partners, spend four weeks in residence at the beautiful Atelier Samuel Beckett, located in the village of Méricourt on the banks of the River Seine outside of Paris, France.

The residency takes place from October 13 – November 7, 2025 and the eligibility criteria are set out below. 

The residency includes:

• Return travel from Ireland to France
• Living expenses, and self-catering
• Accommodation in a two-story house with two bedrooms and a common kitchen, living room and study with an extensive library relating to Samuel Beckett.

This residency is an opportunity for the selected participants to engage in cultural exchange while working on their own individual projects.  Participants receive two hours of one-to-one structured conversation with the Atelier directors, and are expected to engage the local community for a minimum of two public events organised by Atelier Samuel Beckett in consultation with the funding partners.

Applications for the Irish writer residency should be submitted to Literature Ireland; applications for the French translator residency should be submitted to Centre National du Livre. 

Eligibility criteria, Irish writer

• This pilot residency is open to writers of literary fiction from or normally resident on the island of Ireland
• Minimum of two books published, with national / international distribution
• Established track record as a writer (e.g. Arts Council bursary recipient, reviews in national press, festival participation, public engagement)
• Ability to travel to France for the duration of October 13 – November 7, 2025 (travel costs are covered to and from Ireland)
• Living expenses will be paid (€2000, to include travel within France) 

Your application should include the following:

• A brief outline of the writing project you will work on during the residency
• A brief statement of intent outlining why a residency at the Atelier appeals to you and why it would be beneficial to your work 
• A full CV including your publications and relevant experience and your email and phone contact details
• A writing sample of no more than 10 pages. This can be previously published work or a work in progress.

For further information, please email translate@literatureireland.com.

Applications should be submitted to this email address by 5 p.m. on 20 August. Please include Atelier Beckett in the subject line, along with your name. 

 

 

Posted to Opportunities for Writers News on 22 Jul 2025.