Sofia Literature and Translation house is an initiative of Next Page Foundation that was started in 2014 as a follow-up of the foundation's Translation Lab project prepared for the Sofia candidacy for the European Capital of Culture. After many years of various attempts and discussions between cultural organizations in Sofia on the need of literary residencies in the city, we found a committed partner in the face of the Sofia Municipality and developed a strategy for the Literature House's development.

The House works for an increased literary communication via translations, by placing a special focus on the so called lesser-used or peripheral languages. It develops professional qualification programs for Bulgarian literary translators and offers residency facilities to internationals working in the book field: translators of Bulgarian literature, writers, editors, agents, literary managers. At the House's premises, the Next Page Foundation and partner organizations offer a variety of public discussions, book launches, workshops for children and the youth, readers clubs.

Residency Program
Next Page Foundation offers creative residencies in Sofia to international literary translators and writers. It also offers opportunities to editors, literary agents, publishers, literary managers, journalists and other professionals working in the field of literature and literary communication.

The program aims to provide opportunities for professional communication with Bulgarian literary and publishing field, with the audiences and cultural life in Sofia. The international residents are introduced to the literary and cultural scene in Sofia as well as to new professional contacts. The residents have access to art and cultural events in Sofia, to libraries and research centres, along with the possibility of tailored professional meetings with key figures and cultural organisations.

The residents are expected to work on a specific project (translation, writing, research), to host at least two events at Sofia Literature and Translation House (workshop, lecture, discussion or a meeting with schoolchildren), to communicate actively with their colleagues. If they wish, participants may get involved in other projects of Next Page Foundation and its partners.

Eligibility
They welcome residents who:

- Have a permanent residency outside Bulgaria;
- Are professionally engaged in the book and literature sector as writers and/or literary translators from Bulgarian language, publishers, agents, editors or who are students of Bulgarian language/Slavic Studies;
- Want to get to know more about contemporary Bulgarian literature and culture.

Applications for residents are reviewed by the Literature and Translation House's Advisory Council. Application by international translators of Bulgarian literature are considered a priority.

For more information on our current and past translators- and writers-in-residence visit their website.

Deadlines
Letters of interest for the residency program in 2022 are accepted all year round but the application should be sent no later than 3 months prior to the expected period of stay. The deadlines for applications for residency fellowships differ for the fellowship types (see Current calls on their website).