The Elizabeth Kostova Foundation invites applications for the fourth edition of Women in the Mountains — a residency for women writers from Bulgaria and other countries in Europe, to be held in the mountain town of Chepelare, Bulgaria, from 1 to 10 August 2026.
The residency is designed to provide time and space for deep creative work, professional and cross-cultural exchange, socialisation, and support. It also seeks to address challenges commonly faced by women writers, such as the undervaluing of writing as a profession, the perception of literature by women as less valuable, and the cultural expectation that women prioritise caregiving over their creative pursuits.
The Women in the Mountains Residency offers 10 days of uninterrupted creative work in an inspiring and restorative mountain setting for eleven women writers from Bulgaria and other European countries. Selected by an international jury, participants will have the opportunity to develop an existing project or explore a new idea, connect with a community of peers, and dedicate themselves fully to their writing and creative process.
The call is open to writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and drama. A total of eleven applicants will be selected, including: two priority places for women writers living in conditions of war and refugee writers; one place for a Lithuanian writer, provided by the Union of Lithuanian Writers. One residency place is made possible with the kind support of Goethe-Institut Sofia.
Successful candidates will receive:
- private accommodation in the town of Chepelare;
- full board for the duration of the residency;
- coverage of all transportation expenses;
- group meetings with mentors;
- group activities for spirit and body;
- organised mountain hikes and an alpine zip-line experience;
- participation in a literary reading; and
- social stipends for participants with additional needs.
