Arvon awarded funding from Jerwood Foundation

Arvon has been awarded £40,000 from Jerwood Foundation to launch the Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies, a new self-guided talent development programme for 12 emerging writers. The residencies will support writers working in fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and playwriting, giving them the opportunity to bring a project to completion – whether that is a novel or non-fiction work, a stage play, a story or essay collection, or a poetry pamphlet or collection.

Over the course of the 18-month programme, each writer will shape their own residency, selecting from a mix of Arvon’s residential and online courses to best support their creative process. Alongside this, they will receive quarterly one-to-one tutorials with a dedicated mentor, join online masterclasses, and take part in industry advice sessions. With the guidance of Arvon tutors and the flexibility to tailor their own pathway, participants will be supported to complete a substantial writing project – transforming an unseen manuscript into a finished work ready to be shared with the world.

The inaugural Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies will run from January 2026 to July 2027, culminating in an online showcase for literary agents, publishers and other industry professionals.

The Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies will:

• Support 12 UK-based writers aged 18+ with a project already in progress
• Provide two residential writing courses and one online week or month-long course
• Offer six quarterly one-to-one tutorials with an experienced mentor
• Provide access to ten Arvon masterclasses and access to Arvon’s resource of over 400 writing tips and exercises
• Facilitate meetings with industry professionals and peer networking across disciplines
• Conclude with an online showcase to present work to agents, publishers and producers

Andrew Kidd Hon FRSL, CEO of Arvon, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this funding from Jerwood Foundation. At a time when writers are navigating an array of challenges, supporting and championing emerging talent has never been more crucial. The Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies will nurture an exceptional cohort of writers working across a range of disciplines and we are excited to embark on this new partnership.”

Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee, Jerwood Foundation, said:
“I am delighted to be building upon this longstanding relationship with Arvon through the Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies. This bespoke programme will provide 12 promising writers working across different genres the support and opportunity they need to take a critical step in the development of their career, which underlines Jerwood’s commitment to supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK.”

Applications for the Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies will open on Monday 20th October and close Monday 17th November.

Full application requirements and eligibility details are available here.