The Elizabeth Kostova Foundation invites you to apply for the third edition of Women in the Mountains—a residency for women writers from Bulgaria and other European countries. The residency will take place from August 1 to August 10, 2025, in the peaceful, green surroundings of the mountain town of Chepelare, Bulgaria.

The residency is designed to provide time and space for deep creative work, professional and cross-cultural exchange, socialization, and support. It also seeks to address challenges commonly faced by women writers, such as the undervaluing of writing as a profession, the perception of literature by women as less valuable, and the cultural expectation that women prioritize caregiving over their creative pursuits.

About the Residency

The Women in the Mountains Residency offers ten days of uninterrupted creative work in an inspiring and restorative mountain setting for eleven women writers from Bulgaria and other European countries. Selected by an international jury, participants will have the opportunity to develop an existing project or explore a new idea, connect with a community of peers, and dedicate themselves fully to their writing and creative process.

The call is open to authors of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama in Bulgarian and other languages. A total of eleven applicants will be selected, including two priority spots for women writers living in war zones and refugee writers, as well as one spot for a Lithuanian writer, provided by the Lithuanian Writers’ Union.*

Successful candidates will receive:

• Private accommodation in the town of Chepelare, the green heart of the Rhodopes;

• Full board for the duration of the residency;

• Coverage of all transportation expenses;

• Group meetings with mentors;

• Group activities for body and mind (yoga, readings, games);

• Organized mountain walks and an alpine zip line ride;

• Participation in a literary reading;

• Social stipends for participants with additional needs**.

Eligibility

The residency is open to women over the age of 18 living in Bulgaria and other European countries. While participants do not need to be published authors, experience in creative writing is required, along with the submission of original material.

Proficiency in English is not mandatory, but a conversational level is recommended for full engagement. Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously attended an artist residency.