(September 2015)
WRITER-IN-THE-GARDENS RESIDENCY
2016
APPLICATION GUIDE
The Writer-in-the-Gardens Residency is a residency programme that aims to provide an inspirational space for
Singapore writers to develop original works in any of the four official languages – English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
Successful applicants will take up a 6–9 month residency position with Gardens by the Bay, Fort Canning Park or Sungei
Buloh Wetland Reserve, where they will work towards completing an original work, inspired by the gardens. As part of
the residency, the writer will be required to give two public sessions at the gardens. NAC will provide funding support to
successful applicants towards the completion of the work.
WHO MAY APPLY
Applicants must:
a) Be Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
b) Be a recognised writer with a literary track record.
Recipients of NAC’s Arts Creation Fund/ Creation Grant
who have yet to complete their Arts Creation Fund/
Creation Grant projects may not apply.
ELIGIBLE GENRES
Poetry, prose (short stories, novellas/novels, children’s
and young adult literature, creative non-fiction) in
English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Assessment will be based on:
a) Literary merit of project proposal, writing samples
and supporting materials.
b) The residency’s potential to contribute to the
applicant’s growth and development as a writer and
the applicant’s need for the residency.
c) The applicant’s literary track record and potential to
contribute to the Singapore literary scene.


4. WRITING SAMPLE FROM THE PROPOSED WORK TO BE
DEVELOPED AND COMPLETED DURING RESIDENCY
 5 pages of the manuscript (for fiction and creative
non-fiction); or
 3 poems.
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR APPLICANTS
a) The proposed work should be inspired by the
respective gardens. For Gardens by the Bay, the work
should also be in the genre of children’s literature.
b) In addition, applicants who propose to work on an
illustrated children’s book must apply with:
(i) A confirmed illustrator
(ii) Quotation for the illustrator’s services
(iii) Illustrator’s curriculum vitae
(iv) Sample illustrations, relevant to proposed work
c)
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Complete the attached Application Form along with the
following 4 supporting materials:
1. MAXIMUM TWO-PAGE PROPOSAL including the
following:
a) Statement of purpose.
b) Outline of work plan and expected benefits of the
residency programme.
c) Details of the proposed literary work to be
developed and completed during Residency.
d) Proposed topic, format and duration for two public
sessions.
2. LITERARY CURRICULUM VITAE
3. EXISTING WRITING SAMPLES in one of the following
genres (can be previously published or unpublished):
 Poetry (3 poems);
Prose (1 short story or 1 chapter from a novel); or
Creative Non-Fiction (1 essay or 1 chapter from a
non-fiction book in areas such as biographies,
travel writing, art criticism, personal essays, etc).
Applicants who propose to write in Chinese, Malay or
Tamil may submit writing samples in the
aforementioned languages. However, the proposal
must be written in English or accompanied by a
coherent English translation.
RESIDENCY DETAILS
a) The Writer-In-Residence (WIR) will be attached to a
garden for a period of 6 months. The edited and
completed work is to be submitted within 6 months
after the residency ends.
b) WIRs are required to visit the garden at least once
every 2 weeks during the residency.
c) WIRs will give 2 public sessions at the garden during the
residency period.
d) NAC will provide funding support of up to S$15,000
towards the completion of the work.
e) First Residency Period: 2 January 2016 to 30 June 2016
Second Residency Period: 1 July 2016 to 31 December
2016
EMAIL SUBMISSION
Applications are accepted by email only.

Send
your
application
to
lo_hwei_shan@nac.gov.sg.

Put “Application for Residency 2016: [Garden]”
and indicate the specific garden in the subject
line.

The Application Form and all supporting
materials should be sent as attachments, not
pasted in the body of the email. All attachments
must be submitted in either Microsoft Word
(.doc, .docx) or PDF (.pdf) format.
CLOSING DATE
All applications for the 2015 residency cycle must arrive
no later than 2359hrs on Wednesday, 21 October 2015.
Late, illegible and incomplete applications will not be
accepted. Results will be announced in December 2015.
ENQUIRIES
The FAQs can be found on page 3 of this document.
Please read them carefully before applying. If you have
further enquiries, please contact Lo Hwei Shan at
lo_hwei_shan@nac.gov.sg.
WRITER-IN-THE-GARDENS RESIDENCY 2016
APPLICATION FORM
(September 2015)
PERSONAL PARTICULARS
Applicant’s Name as in NRIC
Mr/ Ms
Mailing Address
Telephone
NRIC No
S
Email Address
Genre
Language
Occupation
Date of Birth
THE FOLLOWING RESIDENCIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR APPLICATION IN 2015:
Gardens by the Bay 1 (GBTB1):
1 January 2016 to 30 June 2016
Gardens by the Bay 2 (GBTB2):
1 July 2016 to 31 December 2016
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR1):
1 January 2016 to 30 June 2016
Fort Canning Park (FCP1):
1 July 2016 to 31 December 2016
I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR… (Please indicate which residency you wish to be considered for)
1st choice:
2nd choice:
PROPOSED BUDGET
QUALIFYING COSTS
Living Expenses (Creator’s Fees)
Editor
Fees to Conduct Two Public Sessions
Others e.g. Illustrator’s Fees (if any)
BREAKDOWN/ REMARKS
SUBTOTAL (S$)
Total Funding Requested
ANNEX A: PROPOSAL AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Please describe your proposed project (no more than two pages):
i) Statement of purpose outlining the objectives, including the questions below.
(Why is this residency appropriate for you at this time? What do you anticipate getting out of the experience?)
ii) Outline of work plan and expected benefits of the residency programme
(What do you plan to achieve during the residency to consider it successful, and how will you work towards that?)
iii) Artistic concept and synopsis of the proposed literary work to be developed and completed during residency,
including the proposed creation process.
iv) Proposed topic, format and duration for the two public sessions
ANNEX B: LITERARY CURRICULUM VITAE
Please attach a brief and updated curriculum vitae (no more than 1000 words):
i)
ii)
iii)
Literary CV
Other literary qualifications and achievements
A recent photograph
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ANNEX C: WRITING SAMPLES
Please supply BOTH of the following documents:
i)
-
Existing writing sample in one of the following genres (can be previously published or unpublished)
Poetry (3 poems); or
Prose (1 short story or 1 chapter from a novel); or
Creative Non-Fiction (1 essay or 1 chapter from a non-fiction book in areas such as biographies, travel writing,
art criticism, personal essays).
ii)
-
Sample from proposed work to be developed and completed during residency
5 pages of the manuscript (for fiction and creative non-fiction); or
3 poems.
DECLARATION
I have read the above and acknowledge that I understand the information provided in this form. I certify that the
information given above and in the attached Annexes A, B, and C are, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and
complete.
I consent to the use of the information contained herein for the purpose of assessment for eligibility to the Writerin-the-Gardens Residency Scheme.
Annex
Tick here if provided
Proposal and Statement of Purpose
A
Literary Curriculum Vitae
B
Writing Samples (Existing AND Proposed Work)
C
Signature :
Date :
PLEASE ENSURE ALL RELEVANT ANNEXES ARE PROPERLY LABELLED AND ATTACHED. LATE, ILLEGIBLE OR INCOMPLETE
APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Note: Supporting material will not be returned to applicants.
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WRITER-IN-THE-GARDENS RESIDENCY 2016
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Application Procedures
May I submit my application in hardcopy by post?
No. All applications must be submitted by email to lo_hwei_shan@nac.gov.sg unless very special circumstances do
not allow an applicant to do so. If this is the case, please contact Hwei Shan at lo_hwei_shan@nac.gov.sg.
May I submit an application for more than one genre?
No. You have to choose one genre for the entire duration of the residency.
I am a budding writer. May I apply?
Budding writers are not prevented from applying, but do note that you will be competing against more
established writers.
Selection Process
What criteria will be used in the selection process?
All applications (including the writing sample, project proposal and statement of purpose) will be evaluated on
the following criteria:
a. Literary merit of the project proposal, writing samples and supporting materials (50%);
b. The residency’s potential to contribute to the applicant’s growth and development as a writer and the
applicant’s need for the residency (30%);
c. The applicant’s literary track record and potential to contribute to the Singapore literary scene (20%).
Shortlisted applications will be subject to an external assessment. NAC reserves the right not to disclose reasons
for approving or rejecting an application.
When will I know the application results?
All applicants will be informed by email of the outcome of their application, whether successful or unsuccessful,
by the end of December 2015. We regret that we will not be able to engage in correspondence on unsuccessful
applications.
The Residency Programme
Is the Residency a stay-in one?
No, the residency is not a stay-in one.
I have a day job. Can I still do the residency?
Yes, as long as you are confident that you can meet the minimum requirement of visiting the garden once every
two (2) weeks for the duration of the residency, and submitting the completed manuscript within six (6) months
after the end of the residency. The residency does not preclude having a day job.
Do I have to be in Singapore for the entire duration?
No. However, you must meet the minimum requirement of visiting the garden once every two (2) weeks during
the residency, and submit the completed manuscript within six (6) months after the end of the residency. You will
need to inform NAC of the dates of overseas trips that are longer than fourteen (14) days during the duration of
Residency.
How many writers will be selected for the programme?
One writer will selected for each residency. A joint proposal between a writer and an illustrator will be considered
as one writer.
I would like to work on an illustrated children’s book but have yet to find an illustrator. May I apply?
No. An application to work on an illustrated children’s book without a confirmed illustrator will be considered
incomplete.
May I change my proposal halfway through the residency?
No. In the interest of fairness to the other applicants, you may not change your proposal halfway through the
residency.
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How long must the work be?
For the purpose of this project, the illustrated children’s book must comprise at least 28 fully illustrated pages; a
novella is defined as a work between 15,000- 49,999 words; and a novel is defined as 50,000 words and above.
Do I have to complete the manuscript during the Residency?
You will be required to submit the edited manuscript within six (6) months after the end of the residency.
May I apply for both residencies?
Yes, you may. However, if successful, you will only be selected for one (1) residency.
Will my work produced during the Residency be published?
If your work is successfully picked up by an established literary publisher, the publisher will be eligible to apply to
NAC for a publishing grant.
Do I own the intellectual rights to my work?
Yes, you own the copyright to your work. However, submitted works may be published (in print or online) at
NAC’s discretion. Additionally, if you have your work published or performed after Residency, we require an
acknowledgement in the publication and publicity materials that the work was completed as part of NAC’s
Writer-in-the-Gardens Residency Programme.
If your question has not been addressed here, please email Lo Hwei Shan at lo_hwei_shan@nac.gov.sg.
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