Common Currency is a celebration of freedom of expression, creative campaigning, and the best literature the world has to offer to mark the centenary of the PEN movement organised by English PEN. Lead by writers and readers, it seeks to ignite a conversation around issues of freedom of expression.

Cúirt International Literature Festival, English PEN and Irish PEN/ PEN na hÉireann are working together in the spirit of the PEN charter that ‘literature knows no frontiers’ to provide an opportunity for a writer from the MENA region resident in Ireland to be the Common Currency Writer in Residence during the 2021 Cúirt International Literature Festival.

We welcome submissions from writers who are resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland who identifies as a member of the diaspora from the Middle East and North Africa. For the purposes of this residency these countries include Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestinian Territories, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and UAE.

We welcome applications from writers whose first language is not English including Refugees and asylum seekers, although please note that your submission will be assessed in English.

This residency is made possible through the support of the British Council.

The deadline for submitting applications is 12noon (GMT) Monday 22 February 2021.