Renowned poet Alison Glenny will soon begin her six-week residency in Dunedin as the 2024 recipient of the Caselberg Trust Margaret Egan Cities of Literature Writers Residency. Starting in November and running until mid-December, the residency allows Glenny to work on a significant writing project while connecting with Dunedin’s rich literary culture.
The residency, awarded by the Caselberg Trust in partnership with the Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature, provides writers the chance to immerse themselves in creative work while engaging with the local literary community. Glenny will be staying at the picturesque Caselberg House in Whakaohorahi/Broad Bay on the Otago Peninsula, where the scenic landscapes will serve as inspiration for her latest project.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Glenny expressed her excitement, saying, “I feel both humbled and excited by the opportunity to take inspiration for a new project from the beautiful natural and urban landscapes of Ōtepoti Dunedin.”
Living on the Kāpiti Coast, Glenny has previously published two poetry collections, including The Farewell Tourist, an Antarctic-themed collection that won the Kathleen Grattan Prize and was published by Otago University Press in 2018. Her third collection, /slanted, is set to be released this month by Compound Press.
This residency is made possible by a generous bequest from the late Margaret Egan to the Caselberg Trust. Now in its second year, the six-week residency is awarded annually, alternating between writers from UNESCO Cities of Literature and those from Aotearoa New Zealand. This year is especially meaningful, as it marks the 10th anniversary of Dunedin’s designation as a City of Literature, with Glenny being the first writer from Aotearoa to receive the residency.
Next year, a writer from one of the other 52 UNESCO Cities of Literature will be selected for this prestigious opportunity.
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