Gaelic Writer in Residence

Part-time: 14 hours per week (0.4 FTE)

Fixed-term: for 24 months (September 2024 – August 2026)

Applications are invited for a part-time (0.4 FTE) Gaelic Writer in Residence based in the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies. Located within the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Celtic and Scottish Studies is an exceptionally strong subject area with a commitment to developing links in creative writing between its students and professional writers. The University wishes to appoint a highly capable person who will fulfil and develop this University-wide role.

We are looking for a person who can develop and fulfil the role of Gaelic Writer in Residence. You will be a published writer of poetry, prose fiction or drama with demonstrable ability to engage with a varied cohort of students of Gaelic and the wider Gaelic community.

Celtic and Scottish Studies is a leading centre for the study of Celtic languages. Many graduates of the University—Somhairle MacGill-Eain and his brother Calum, Tormod Caimbeul, Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul, and Maoilios Caimbeul, for example—have made major contributions to Gaelic literature. Over the course of your tenure you will produce at least one major piece of creative writing, work with teaching staff to create materials supporting the delivery of Gaelic language teaching, organise workshops, readings and other public events. 

We would make available the sound recordings, visual material, manuscript holdings and other resources of the School of Scottish Studies Archives, the University’s library, which includes the Carmichael-Watson and Professor Donald MacKinnon collections, as well as our holdings of Gaelic books, journals, pamphlets and other written material. The writer would also be encouraged to draw on the excellent Gaelic collections of the National Library of Scotland.

The appointment is fixed term for 24 months, starting in September 2024 and is not renewable. The post is restricted to 24 months so that students and the University to benefit from the varied development activities, experiences and exposure to professional writers that the rolling two-year writer-in-residence programme provides.

We welcome applications for this post from all qualified candidates and particularly welcome applications from members of minority ethnic groups, who are currently under-represented in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Informal inquiries may be directed to LLC.Recruitment@ed.ac.uk. 

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• Fluency in Gaelic. 
• Published writer of poetry, prose fiction or drama.
• An established and recognised reputation for excellence among peers.
• Demonstrable organisational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of, and contacts in, local and national literary networks.

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