Cove Park International Fellowship FAQ
WHO CAN APPLY?
This fellowship is open to all Varuna alumni. (To be eligible as a Varuna alumni member, you must have been successful in receiving a Varuna Fellowship, have taken part in a Varuna Masterclass or received a residency as part of a partnership program such as a Writers' Centre Fellowship or Affirm Press Mentorship.)
WHAT DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AS PART OF MY APPLICATION?
a short bio of your published works to date, as well as any awards and prizes received
a statement outlining how the residency would benefit you
an overview of the project you will be working on during your residency and a brief plan for its completion
a statement about your ability to to present your work as part of a writers’ festival
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER SELECTION CRITERIA?
Selection criteria for this program include recency and critical reception of your published work to date, relevance of your work to the Wigtown Festival program, and how you may benefit from this residency. The theme for Wigtown Festival in 2024 is ‘new stories about climate change’, although the Festival Director is interested in any socially relevant themes or topics.
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENCY DATES?
The dates of the fellowship in Cove Park are 30 September 2024 - 27 October 2024.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAVELLING TO COVE PARK, SCOTLAND?
It’s important that applicants realise that Cove Park is in a remote area of Western Scotland. The journey from Sydney to Scotland involves at least 25 hours of air travel, and once you arrive at Glasgow airport, the journey to Cove Park requires two trains, a ferry and then a short drive. Similarly, while the distance between Cove Park and Wigtown is short as the crow flies, the journey will take several hours via public transport.
IS THE RESIDENCY FULLY CATERED?
No. The residency is self-catering, and although you can arrange for online delivery of supplies from the supermarket, there are no shops within walking distance. There is a manual off-road station wagon available for residents to borrow, but the roads around Cove Park are extremely narrow and you may not feel confident getting around this way. However, staff are always willing to assist, and the online delivery service is both regular and reliable.
WILL I HAVE WI-FI?
There is no wi-fi in the studios, and depending on your mobile phone service, you may have no signal from your accommodation. You may need to walk up to the main building in order to make or receive phone calls, or use the Internet.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?
The weather in Scotland can also be quite cold and windy, and you will need to bring good wet weather gear and lots of warm clothes. (Having said this about the weather, Scotland is the land where you can have ‘four seasons in a day’; the changing light caused by the ever-shifting weather conditions is very beautiful, and there is perhaps no better feeling than being curled up in a cosy studio writing while the rain lashes outside.)
IS THE ACCOMMODATION ACCESSIBLE?
Although there is an accessible studio adjacent to the main building, the terrain around Cove Park is rugged and a four-week exchange would not be practical if you have any mobility issues. Most of the accommodation is accessed from the main building via a footpath that is narrow, steep and sometimes quite muddy. Ideally, you will be relatively fit and you will feel confident to walk the 200-metre distance between the main building and the main cluster of studios.