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Student Profile: Valentin, MA in History and Philosophy of Art

What attracted you most about studying at the Paris School of Arts and Culture?

Thinking back to well over a year ago when I was sifting through master’s degrees online, my criteria were so specific that I had little hopes of fulfilling all of them…What I think settled it for me was the location; since taking the opportunity to visit Reid Hall last summer, I never looked back. Rarely had I looked forward to commuting to school/uni/work before, but knowing that classes are held in a picturesque old porcelain factory around the corner from the Jardin du Luxembourg definitely gets me excited enough to catch my metro in time (almost) every morning.

What is the relation (if any) between your undergraduate studies and your current MA programme?

Before coming to Paris, I got a BA in Philosophy & Economics. That might not necessarily be the most closely related field, but I always managed to incorporate my art-related interests into my research – so although I do not possess the broad art-historic knowledge of many of my classmates (yet), I get along just fine considering some subjects from a media-economic or epistemological perspective. My experience here has been that as long as you are passionate about a topic, you will be able to thoroughly explore it regardless of your prior education; beyond open discussions in seminars, the professors and Parisian institutions provide practically unlimited resources. I would say that interdisciplinarity is something that was especially enabled by both my under- and postgraduate studies: if philosophy and economics can be fruitfully related, the same goes for any two themes in this MA program (in my case, art history and film history).

What was your favourite module?

Now this is a tough choice. Both in Modern Art in Paris and Film and Modernity, we got treated to quite a few inspiring excursions (such as exhibitions at the Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, Petit Palais, Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Musée Albert Kahn), were assigned interesting readings and supported in our own research. For me personally, the film class takes the cake. Our professor happened to be on the jury of a Paris-based festival and invited us to come along, connecting us with filmmakers and curators, some of whom we even ended up collaborating with for a screening we organized as part of the annual Paris Postgraduate Festival! Not to forget, an honorable mention for the most entertaining class certainly goes to the weekly French lesson with Dr Carine Fréville.

At PSAC, we like to say that Paris is your campus. How genuine do you think this is?

In addition to the numerous excursion destinations mentioned above, there is a rich buffet of research institutions all over town. From the cozy living room atmosphere of the American Library in Paris, to the breathtaking eclecticism of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France at Richelieu, to the dystopian depths of its François Mitterrand site (no doubt the best place to get a grip and focus when deadlines are approaching), PSAC hands out library memberships like candy – and I was there for it. Also, fortunately for me, sitting in a booth in front of a boxy monitor from the 1990s to watch obscure films from the 1930s matches my idea of a fun morning, and so I have become a regular visitor at the Cinémathèque française. And finally, there is nothing wrong with snuggling up at Reid Hall or strolling over to the lavish nearby park to do a week’s worth of mandatory reading on a single sunny afternoon.

You started your studies in January. Do you feel it was easy enough to meet other students and form bonds?

Concerts, screenings and magazine launches are just some of many opportunities to connect with peers on and off campus throughout the year, yet I felt and still feel no pressure to socialize; as with most things, the key is to not overthink anything, be open to new experiences and let it all happen naturally.

What has been your most memorable Paris moment?

A few come to mind, but here’s one that is perhaps most representative of how I hope to remember this chapter in my life (as much as it is a total cliché): Sitting down on a picnic blanket in Buttes-Chaumont after having played Boules for two hours straight, surrounded by most of my friends, cheese, pastry, wine, grapes, and watching the sun set over the city.

You’re from Germany. What as the transition from Germany to Paris like?

Having already lived in France for a few months after high school, and being from a neighboring EU country, I had the privilege of neither having to deal with a lot of paperwork beforehand nor being surprised by cultural differences. That’s right, you’re supposed to remain quiet during a movie! Unless it’s a silent film of course, in which case one is legally obliged to whistle along to the music. (Bad) Jokes aside, I had the rare foresight to look for – and the good fortune to find – accommodation a few months in advance; now that I’ve properly settled in, Paris feels like a home that I can always come back to. Disclaimer for fellow (former) medium-sized-town dwellers: It did take me a while to make peace with the fact that I will necessarily miss out on most of the exciting cultural happenings on account of their sheer ubiquity.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

To follow up my previous statement: Relax and discover everything at your own pace. At the same time, embrace that this is a great time to meet people and explore whatever interests you – or, if you’re unsure, to find out what that really is. Be willing to learn some French! You can get the basics down with any school book or online tutorial, aided by the weekly free lesson on campus. Then gather all your courage and start getting through your everyday life – and ideally, beyond – in the local language as best as you can, even when you’re being replied to in English (which happens a lot in the beginning). Eat and drink well, go for walks and hop on a rental bike from time to time to get a feeling for the city outside of your commuting routine. Lastly, there is not much left to say concerning the course apart from the obvious (choose modules that you’re curious about, not just by subject but content!). One bit of practical advice I think, speaking from personal experience, would be to use some extra time to do research throughout the term, so as not to be in a rush once the essay deadlines are around the corner. Time flies in Paris!

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Valentin in the courtyard garden at Reid Hall, University of Kent Paris School.

Graduate Profile: Journalist Sinéad McCausland

In the latest edition of our Graduate Profile series, we are pleased to introduce an alumna who remained in Paris after her studies. Since graduating from the University of Kent’s MA in Film Studies, Sinéad McCausland works as a journalist for France’s newspaper of record, Le Monde, in addition to producing written and video work for various media platforms.

Where are you from and what originally brought you to Paris?

I was born and brought up in South Wales. A draw to cities is what originally brought me to Paris. Having spent my childhood in rural towns, cities became hubs of art, culture, connection, opportunity, change – everything I wanted to be a part of. Truthfully, I could’ve ended up in any city, but, fully immersed in my French New Wave obsession when I made the decision to leave, I think it was only natural that Paris was the place I ended up.

What attracted you most about studying with Kent in Paris?

The fact the courses offered were in English was number one. Moving to a new country is tough, and not speaking the language is even tougher, so this was my primary concern. I remember being drawn to the Film modules Kent in Paris offered thanks to the scope of what was taught, from the beginnings of cinema in France through to the New Wave, and Kent in Paris’ interdisciplinary approach to learning. Being given the opportunity to study and sit in on art history and creative writing classes was a big plus.

What were some of the highlights from the course?

Being given introductory tours to the Cinémathèque Française and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France were definitely highlights. What stands out most from the course is how well each professor incorporated Paris into their classes. I think we spent more time outside of the classroom than inside it, exploring the city and its people in relation what we were learning – there was even one class [covering psychogeography] where we were encouraged to take our shoes and socks off and walk around the 6th arrondissement barefoot (I did). And working and socializing in the beautiful Reid Hall building, which I still visit regularly, is something I’d encourage all students to take advantage of while doing their programme.

How did your Master’s programme at Kent in Paris help with your career prospects?

My Master’s at Kent in Paris was invaluable. Thanks to the opportunities the programme gave me, I began an internship with Columbia University’s Paris Global Center, which then turned into a full-time position, meaning I could stay in Paris. I subsequently learned French and embarked on my career as a journalist, working for France 24, Agence France-Presse, and Le Monde.

What is your current role and how did it come about?

I’m currently a video and text journalist for Le Monde in English, the newspaper’s digital English-language version launched in 2022. I was originally a pigiste, a special freelancer status granted to journalists, for Agence France-Presse’s video service and France 24’s 24 hours news channel before joining Le Monde. 

What are the most rewarding and the most challenging aspects about your current role?

While there are a lot of them, the rewards far outweigh the challenges in journalism. I appreciate that a key part of my job involves staying informed on events, big and small, happening around the world, from the war in Ukraine to the Iranian protests, and so on. Still, it’s hard to switch off – the newsroom is addictive. But the best thing about journalism is that it’s a job where you never stop learning; there’s always something new to discover. 

What is it like looking for work in Paris as a native English speaker? Any advice for current students?

It’s easy to see being a native English speaker in Paris as a limitation if you’re not bilingual, but I would encourage students to see it as a plus. It’s hard to give specific advice because it depends on the work a student may be looking for, but I think if you really want to stay in the city and are proactive enough, there’s always a way to make it work. Let everyone know that you want to stay in Paris and that you’re looking for a job. And most importantly, be kind to yourself. It takes a couple of years to settle into a new country and make it feel like home.

You can view Sinéad’s work for Le Monde in English here.

Student Profile: Sam, MA in Creative Writing

What attracted you most about studying at the Paris School of Arts and Culture?

Probably the opportunity to practice writing in a creative environment, meet like-minded people and professional creatives, and also a really good excuse to spend a year in a city like Paris.

How has the course influenced your writing practice?

I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in the overall quality of my writing – mainly thanks to the workshops put on by the tutors here. There’s so many opportunities to practice and improve both technique and content, within the university and outside it. Personally, I try and write as much as I can first thing when I wake up, then get on with whatever work I have to do for the rest of the day, or go to class. Once I’ve done that I write some more, and usually end up in a bar somewhere in the evening. My Baar on the Boulevard Montparnasse, just round the corner from Reid Hall, is a student favourite after class – 3€ for a blonde (lager). There’s also some really cool open mic nights in various bars around Belleville we’ve been going to which are good fun.

What was your favourite module?

Very hard to choose between them, but I think it’s been Paris: Psychogeography, which mainly handled the relationship between the physical space you’re writing in and the writing itself, and Paris: Portfolio, which had some really great outings. Heather Hartley is a wonderful teacher, and it was a real pleasure to have her talk us through her own practices as an editor and writer herself and how we can incorporate some of those techniques into our own work.

Dr Rosa Rogers, who taught Paris: Portfolio, took us to some really interesting places, my favourite being the Musée Rodin, wandering around the gardens and museum filled with beautiful statues and paintings and then writing about them over a Ricard afterwards.

Describe your cohort.

We’ve come from all over, and everyone brings something different to the table. Some had written prose previovus to the course, some wrote poetry, some wrote music, some hadn’t written much at all before they came (not that you’d know it from some of the things they produced). But everyone pulled together and it made for a really nice environment. We tended to bond most over a drink (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) after Psychogeography classes on Wednesday evenings.

What has been your most memorable Paris moment?

Either wandering the streets of Paris at night with my housemate and stumbling across a sparkling Eiffel Tower almost on accident, or Sam’s (there are two Sams) magazine launch – shameless TWI ST plug – or an old school friend’s gigs in various bars and clubs in the north of Paris. Or open mic nights at the jazz bar round the corner from where I live. To be honest, there’s too many to chose from. There’s always something going on, and no two weeks seem to be the same.

You’re from Hertfordshire in England. What was the transition from your home country to Paris like?

Very interesting – I’ve never lived in a big city before, so it was quite the adjustment. I’ve lived abroad previously so I wasn’t too worried about leaving the UK, but I had no idea how rich and diverse life in Paris would be. It’s a very liberating place. The term metropolis gets bandied about a lot, but Paris really is wonderful– every arrondissement has its own character, and is almost like a small city in itself. Where I live, in the 13th, is quiet and pretty, and you could wander around it for a while and still not see everything, and then there are nineteen other arrondissements to explore as well. There’s something for everyone. And obviously, having friends from the course helped enormously, because you already have a network of people you know you can reach out to, as well as Frank and Naomi, the Kent at Paris administrators, who are always happy to help you out with any questions or queries you might have, be that print shops or paperwork or party spots. Also, the baguettes are unreal.

What advice would you give incoming students?

Just come with an open mind and you’ll be fine. You don’t need to have been a professional writer, or even have written anything at all before you come, so don’t worry about that aspect of it. Practice will start to come naturally once you start writing regularly, which you’ll do in class anyway, and your tutors and classmates will help you with that.

Remember to try and make the most of the other aspects of Parisian life as well, all the museums and exhibitions and galleries and concerts and things. But mainly, that you get out of it what you put in, and you’ll meet some amazing people and experience some incredible things once you put your mind to it.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I’ll be teaching English at the Sorbonne University come September thanks to some connections the University of Kent have with that particular establishment, for which I’m very grateful, so I’ll be in Paris for another year. Feel free to reach out when you get here! After that, who knows – whatever happens, I’ll still be writing and playing music and things, no matter where I’ll end up, but I’ll always have fond memories of Reid Hall, the Paris School campus. Especially of Youki, the cat that lives in the library.

Youki, Reid Hall’s resident cat, on her constitutional.

Student Profile: Lauretta, MA in Creative Writing

What attracted you most about studying at the Paris School of Arts and Culture?

Undertaking the MA in Creative Writing was a huge change for me. My undergraduate degree is in Accounting and Finance and I had a successful career in finance before coming to Kent. A common question I was asked was “why don’t you keep your job in finance and write after work and on weekends?” I knew I would be doing myself an injustice if I didn’t enrol in a programme that allowed me to dedicate a significant amount of time to my dream.

I had the opportunity to study at another, equally prestigious school but what swayed my decision was the course structure at the Paris School of Arts and Culture. The most important thing was for me to able to create and work on a novel idea. Kent’s programme has allowed me the headspace to explore my new city, perform research, and play with new genres. I had to ensure that if I was going to take one of the biggest risks in my life, it would be at a place like Kent, where I knew my ideas would be nurtured and my boundaries pushed.

How has the course influenced your writing practice?

A lecturer I worked with during the autumn term gave me the support to polish my pieces but also enter them into as many competitions as I could. During my time in Paris, I have had sections of my novel published in literary magazines and read out loud at numerous events. And I was recently shortlisted for a Penguin Random House competition!

As I worked away at my career in finance, I knew that what I needed the most was time. Time to push myself, which is what the Paris School offered me. I owe much of my success to the course structure, which allowed me the breathing room to not only develop my ideas but also put pen to paper.

What was your favourite module?

Identity, Trauma and Sexuality in 20th and 21st Century Narratives was my favourite. It appealed to the part of me that loves books. Every week I was able to pick up a new text, which covered some really hard hitting material. After every text, I felt myself getting smarter and my view on the world shifted and became more textured. Certainly, a module I would recommend!

Describe your cohort.

We were thrown together initially but soon I found we had so much in common. On the first day, I heard people laugh over a pub they both visited in Birmingham as another group squeezed together to look at photos of someone’s hometown in Italy. There are some stars who burn blinding bright and some quieter types who brood mysteriously out of windows, but everyone has a place. We are all so willing to support each other whether it’s sharing recipes, a place to stay or bringing over a specific brand of all-purpose seasoning from England. We’re a family.

What has been your most memorable Paris moment?

It has to be at one the first house parties I went to in Paris, hosted by a fellow student. I sat by a window, clutching a glass of wine as I spoke with violent passion about that day’s metro experience, and I laughed. I laughed because I finally felt settled in a city where I didn’t speak the language and where six weeks before, I knew absolutely nobody.

Either that or the day I learnt the correct terms to order a perfectly baked baguette from the boulangerie: pas trop cuite!

You’re from London. What was the transition from London to Paris like?

I stand firm in my belief that London is the capital of the world. I can, however, entertain conversations around New York or Paris also being the capital of the world. So, in my mind, I was moving from one world capital to another. This allowed for the ease of certain things, such as using a metro system and the mechanism of the economy. However, in other places I had less surefootedness. For example, the etiquette around payments and phone calls and the slower nature in which things run in Paris was an adjustment for me, but I did adjust.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

As a creative writing student, I found that myself and other students who had an idea of what they wanted – to spend the year writing – took more away from the course. I was able to ask targeted questions about my work and propel myself towards my goal. Modules such as Fiction and Psychogeography allowed for exploration of new forms, genres and styles which ultimately only strengthened my core focus, my novel. The idea you come with doesn’t need to (and in fact shouldn’t) be set in stone but knowing what you want to leave the year with will ensure you are not simply being blown by the wind.

Paris is a city that must be approached with adaptability. Even if you’re from a huge city, or you’ve visited Paris before, living here is wildly different. The ability to adapt will make it easier to thrive. Things occur unexpectedly but that’s what makes things exciting and the more willing you are to bend, the more fruitful your time here will be.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I am moving to Medellin, Colombia after graduation to embark on other life changing adventures. I’ll also be trying to get my book over the finish line with the help of all the tools I gathered this year!

 

Alongside her studies, Lauretta works as a barista in Paris’ 3rd arrondissement.

Merci beaucoup, Lauretta!

Call for applicants for Paris Writer’s Residency 2023

From 1 February 2023, applications are invited for The Paris Writer’s Residency, sponsored jointly by The American University of Paris (AUP), the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Irish Arts Centre), and the University of Kent Paris School of Arts and Culture (PSAC). The Residency will take place from 1-31 October 2023.

The appointment is non-stipendiary but accommodation is provided at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in the heart of the Latin Quarter (5e arrondissement). In addition, there is an expenses allowance of 1,500€ to cover travel and living costs.

There are three main obligations:

  • A day of interaction with undergraduate Creative Writing students at AUP;
  • A reading and workshop with Master’s students at PSAC;
  • A joint public event at the Centre Culturel Irlandais.

The writer appointed to this position may be a practitioner in poetry, prose or another genre. We are interested in someone who offers interdisciplinary possibilities and who would relish the opportunity to engage with students.

Please submit your application via Interfolio here. Please note that you will be asked to create an account.

Applicants are asked to submit:

  • a letter explaining in no more than 250 words why Paris is an appropriate location for their residency and how they would plan to work with the students.
  • a CV
  • a short sample of current work not exceeding 3,000 words

Applications close on 15 March 2023 and the successful candidate will be notified in May 2023.

The Paris Writer’s Residency has previously been held by writer and translator Daniel Hahn (2018), poet and author Sampurna Chatterjee (2019), poet and novelist Sophie Mackintosh (2021) and poet and translator E. Tracy Grinnell (2022).

Questions related to the residency may be addressed to paris@kent.ac.uk.

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How to register for French health insurance (if eligible)

Student visa holders of any nationality and EU nationals

If you are either

  • A student visa holder (“visa étudiant”)
  • A student who is also a European Union national

You can register for the French national health insurance scheme (known as l’Assurance maladie, or Ameli).

Registering with the French national health insurance scheme will unlock the right to be reimbursed for most (though not all) of your medical costs when seeing practitioners in France.

In practice, you must pay all medical practitioners for consultations at the time of the consultation. The national health insurance scheme will automatically reimburse you once you are fully registered (until that point, you will need to submit your orange feuille de soins for reimbursement). Reimbursement always takes place after the medical consultation has happened.

Register here: https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr/#/ and follow the prompts.

In doing this, you are simultaneously registering for la Sécurité sociale and will receive a Social Security number and a green carte vitale*.

Generally speaking, you will be required to upload

  • Proof of your student status (please contact the Kent Paris office for a status letter; do not use the status letter you used to apply for your visa)
  • Identification (passport, national ID card)
  • Your student visa (for visa holders)
  • Your bank account details (RIB/IBAN)

If you are not an EU national, you may also be required to upload

EU nationals who are in possession of either an S1 form or their EHIC card will have slightly different prompts. If you are an EU national who has neither an S1 form nor an EHIC card, you can still register for French social security.

*Once you are in possession of your green carte vitale, reimbursement will take place automatically. Until then, you will receive an orange feuille de soins from each medical appointment/consultation. The feuille de soins acts as a form of receipt. You will need to physically post this to your local CPAM in order to be reimbursed. Once you receive your carte vitale, you will present the carte vitale at all medical appointments, and will no longer receive the feuille de soins. 

UK nationals who are not student visa holders

If you are

  • a UK national normally resident in the UK
  • coming to France to study but do not hold a student visa

You should apply for a GHIC (formerly EHIC) card prior to coming to France. Due to high demand, you should apply as early as possible.

You can use your GHIC (formerly EHIC) card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when you’re visiting an EU country or Switzerland.

Medically necessary healthcare means healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you return to the UK. Whether treatment is necessary is decided by the healthcare provider in the country you’re visiting.

In France, routine GP visits are not normally covered by GHIC/EHIC, though visits to A&E will be covered, so remember to bring it along should you require emergency care.

Please read the following for a comprehensive summary of health care protocols whilst abroad: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/

Everyone else

If you are not a student visa holder nor a UK national, you may wish to consider obtaining medical insurance while abroad or check to see if your normal health insurance policy covers trips abroad.

You are not required to have medical insurance to see a medical professional in France, and medical costs are very reasonable compared to some other countries. With that said, you may wish to consider medical and/or travel insurance based on your specific health care needs. Practitioners charge different rates; we advise you to enquire about rates or costs before reserving a consultation or medical procedure.

 

Please note that University of Kent Paris School staff can advise students on routine health care practices and policies; however, staff cannot advise on matters concerning an individual’s health and wellbeing.

Paris Open Event on Saturday, 12 November – come meet us!

We’re delighted to be able to welcome you to Paris and our Paris School of Arts and Culture.

Discover more about the courses we offer here in Europe at our Paris and Brussels centres, and at our Canterbury and Medway campuses in the UK.

At Kent, you’ll get the support you need to achieve the career you want. Whatever your interests, whatever your goals, you’ll find your place at Kent.

Complete the form at this link to book your place. 

Dates and times

Sat 12 November 2022
12:00 – 14:00

Where

Paris School of Arts and Culture at Reid Hall 4, rue de Chevreuse 75006 Paris
France

Open to

Prospective undergraduate, postgraduates and their families and supporters

Who to contact

Recruitment and Events Team
information@kent.ac.uk

Alumnus Tom Baragwanath publishes literary thriller

 

University of Kent Creative Writing (Paris) graduate Tom Baragwanath‘s crime novel Paper Cage has been published in Australia and New Zealand by Text Publishing. Winner of the 2021 Michael Gifkins Prize, the book is scheduled to be released by Anchor in the United States (2023) and by Baskerville in the United Kingdom (2024).

University of Kent staff spoke to Tom about his new book and how his time at Kent’s Paris School helped shape his novel.

Why did you choose to write this book?  I wanted to write something set in my hometown of Masterton, New Zealand, which is so very different from where I’m living now, in Paris. Being in a city with a lot of bustle and action, and a city that is all too present within the global consciousness, I felt drawn to sketching the quieter, less seen parts of the world, and celebrating the smaller stories that exist there – stories which in reality aren’t so small at all. Beyond that, I just wanted to spend time with characters that were familiar to me, both real and invented. During the COVID lockdown, it was also the cheapest form of travel – mental travel, in any case.

Paper Cage…concerns a series of child abductions in small-town New Zealand, and one woman’s efforts to balance her loyalties to her family and community against her obligations to the state. Living in Paris, I found myself thinking often of the Wairarapa region in New Zealand, which is my home, and where the novel is set. There is a certain gorgeous emptiness there, and working on this story was a chance to experience that environment every day.

How have you felt since its publication? It’s all rather surreal, seeing the book in people’s hands and knowing they’re engaging with the story. I’m sure this is a feeling common to novice writers, but it’s been more than a year since I finished the book, and it almost feels like someone else wrote it. Hearing reactions from friends, family, and strangers about the story and particular scenes has been a real thrill – though my stepfather was quick to point out a typo he found on page 173.

How did the MA in Creative Writing help with this particular book?  I wouldn’t have been able to think through what I really wanted to achieve with this story without having the rigorous classroom environment of the creative writing MA. There were so many potential directions this story could have gone, and being able to check in with a steady group of attentive and talented readers and writers each week really helped me to refine the voice of the book and understand how it was coming across to my intended audience. It also made me understand how much local slang an international audience might be willing to tolerate.

The guidance and feedback from my teachers and fellow students during my year at Kent helped me to test and refine new ideas and approaches to my characters, and to find the confidence I needed to tell this story.

The University of Kent is incredibly proud of Tom’s achievements and we offer him our heartfelt congratulations! 

In Memoriam: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We stand united in grief with the nation, the Commonwealth and all those around the world who have been touched by her dignity, devotion, exemplary service, and unfailing sense of duty.  

The thoughts of our entire University community are with the Royal Family at this time.  

You can share your own reflections of the Queen and her extraordinary life by leaving a message in our digital book of condolence. Physical books are also available at our Canterbury and Medway campuses.

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President 

Call for applicants for Paris Writer’s Residency 2022

Practitioners in poetry, prose or other genres of writing are invited to apply for the fourth edition of the Paris Writer’s Residency, an initiative jointly sponsored by The American University of Paris (AUP), the Centre Culturel Irlandais (Irish Cultural Center) in Paris, and the University of Kent Paris School of Arts and Culture (PSAC). The residency will take place from October 1 to 31, 2022.

Residents are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary writing possibilities and engage with students at the residency’s partner institutions. The chosen writer will be required to take part in three key events: a day of interaction with creative writing students at AUP, a reading and workshop with PSAC master’s students, and a public lecture at the Centre Culturel Irlandais.

The appointment is non-stipendiary, though accommodation will be provided at the historic Centre Culturel Irlandais located in the Latin Quarter of Paris’s 5th arrondissement. An expenses allowance of €1,500 is provided to cover travel and living costs.

Applicants are asked to submit a CV and a writing sample of no more than 3,000 words, as well as a 250-word letter of motivation explaining why Paris is an appropriate location for their residency and how they plan to work with students. Applications can be submitted from March 15 and will close on May 1, 2022. The successful candidate will be notified in June 2022.

To submit your application via the Interfolio platform, click the link here. Please note that you will be asked to create an account.

Questions related to the residency should be addressed to Amanda Dennis, Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature and English (adennis@aup.edu) or to Yelena Moskovich, Lecturer in Creative Writing (Y.Moskovich-248@kent.ac.uk).

The Paris Writer’s Residency has previously been held by writer and translator Daniel Hahn OBE (2018), poet and author Sampurna Chatterjee (2019) and poet and novelist Sophie Mackintosh (2021).