Unexpected Experiences: On Artist Residencies for Writers

"In Europe, there are several hundred residencies, many of which are free..."

Welcome to our weekly column offering perspectives on lit mag publishing, with contributions from readers, writers and editors around the world.

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Just before the Easter break, I set off for an artist residency in Latvia. The Writers’ and Translators’ House sat in a cobbled square opposite the colonnaded Lutheran Church of Saint Nicholas. Though the church was closed for repairs, I watched tourists assemble outside of the church most days, taking pictures of the giant colorful easter eggs before moving on to the centuries-old Livonian Order castle.