HI~Arts is pleased to announce a major new career development opportunity for writers in the Highlands and Islands.

Following negotiations between HI~Arts and the Scottish Book Trust (SBT), two places have been ring-fenced for writers from the region on the ‘Words @Work’ writer mentoring programme organised by the Scottish Book Trust.  This programme forms part of the Scottish Arts Council-funded Writers Factory scheme from which the HI~Arts Writing Development Programme is also funded.

The deadline for applications is set for Wednesday 16th February 2005 with interviews scheduled for Friday 25 February in Edinburgh.

HI~Arts Writing Development Coordinator, Peter Urpeth, said:

“I am delighted that writers in the region are being given this opportunity to take part in the SBT’s mentoring programme. Mentoring is proven to be a very successful model for creative and career development for writers across the arts and the SBT programme is of the highest quality.

“Writing is thriving in the Highlands and Islands. We have a community of writers here that is the equal of any other region in Scotland and development opportunities of this kind will further strengthen the case of the region to be rightly considered a great place for writers and artists at all stages in their careers to live and work.”

Click here for full details of the scheme and how to apply. Please note that we have secured an extension of the deadline from 14th February to 16th February. Financial assistance with the cost of travel etc., may be available to from HI~Arts. Please contact Peter Urpeth for further details on: 01851 770287 / 07769 508856.