Imagine spending several weeks in a private cabin overlooking the Swiss landscape, surrounded by forests, mountains, and Lake Geneva, with uninterrupted time to focus entirely on your writing. For writers and translators seeking a peaceful environment to develop a literary project, the Jan Michalski Residency Program 2027 in Switzerland offers an exceptional opportunity.
Organized by the Fondation Jan Michalski, the residency welcomes writers and translators from around the world. It provides selected residents with accommodation, financial support, meals, travel assistance, library access, and an inspiring environment dedicated to literary creation.
The residency is located in Montricher, at the foot of the Swiss Jura Mountains. It is designed for authors who need dedicated time to begin, continue, or complete a literary project. Around 40 authors are selected each year, including both emerging writers and experienced literary professionals.
One distinctive feature of the program is its commitment to nature writing. Some residencies are specifically reserved for fiction and creative nonfiction projects that explore sustainability, the relationship between humans and nature, and socio-environmental challenges.
The Jan Michalski Residency is more than an accommodation opportunity. It is a creative environment designed to give writers the time, space, and resources needed to concentrate on serious literary work.
The program is open to applicants of all nationalities and has no age limit. Beginners are also encouraged to apply. Although literary writers and translators receive priority, applicants from other disciplines can be considered when literature is central to their proposed project.
Applications may be submitted individually or as pairs. The program also accepts projects written in any language, making it an internationally accessible opportunity for writers from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The Jan Michalski Residency is an international literary residency established by the Fondation Jan Michalski to support writers and people working with the written word.
Located in Montricher, Switzerland, the foundation provides residents with a unique setting for literary creation. Seven private cabins are positioned within a beautiful natural environment, offering views of Lake Geneva, the Alps, or the surrounding Jura forests.
The peaceful setting is particularly valuable for writers who need uninterrupted time to concentrate on a manuscript, translation, novel, poetry collection, creative nonfiction project, or another literary work.
Residents also become part of a broader cultural environment. They can access the foundation's library, participate in cultural activities, and interact with other residents and creative professionals.
The foundation's emphasis on literary excellence and cross-disciplinary collaboration makes the residency an attractive destination for writers at different stages of their careers.
One of the strongest features of this opportunity is the financial and practical support provided to selected residents. The program is designed to reduce everyday expenses so participants can dedicate their time to their literary projects.
Selected residents receive support for their travel costs. This reduces one of the major financial barriers associated with international residencies and makes the opportunity more accessible to writers from different parts of the world.
Residents receive a weekly allowance of CHF 400. This financial support can help cover personal expenses during the residency.
Each resident receives a private cabin within the Fondation Jan Michalski's residency complex. The cabins provide a quiet and personal environment where writers can work without the distractions commonly associated with everyday life.
For collaborative pairs, each selected participant receives a separate cabin.
Breakfast and lunch are provided during the residency. Having meals covered allows participants to concentrate more fully on their creative work while enjoying the community atmosphere of the foundation.
Residents receive free daytime access to the Fondation Jan Michalski's library. This is particularly valuable for authors whose projects require research, literary references, or access to a broad collection of books.
Residents can also access electric bikes. This provides a practical way to explore the surrounding area and enjoy the natural environment around Montricher.
The residency offers opportunities to participate in cultural activities. These experiences can expose writers to new perspectives and encourage interaction between people working across different areas of literature and culture.
The Jan Michalski Residency has an inclusive eligibility policy. Applicants from different countries, age groups, and career stages can be considered.
The residency is open to writers and translators from all nationalities. There is no requirement to be a Swiss citizen or resident.
There is no upper or lower age limit. Both emerging writers and established authors can apply.
This makes the program particularly attractive to applicants who may not qualify for opportunities restricted to specific age groups.
You do not need to be an internationally recognized author to be considered. Beginners are welcome to submit applications.
However, applicants should present a serious and clearly developed literary project that demonstrates why the residency would be valuable to their work.
Literary writers and translators are given priority. Applicants working in other disciplines can also be considered if literature plays a central role in the proposed project.
Applicants can apply individually or as a pair. Collaborative applications can be appropriate for projects involving multiple creators or disciplines.
However, families, children, and pets cannot be accommodated within the residency arrangements.
A particularly distinctive aspect of the program is its support for nature writing.
A percentage of the available residencies is dedicated to literary projects that examine the natural world and the relationship between people and their environment.
Nature writing can include fiction and creative nonfiction. Projects may explore sustainability, environmental change, socio-environmental relationships, or the effects of human activity on nature.
Writers developing projects connected to climate, conservation, sustainability, ecological relationships, or environmental awareness may therefore find the residency especially relevant.
Applicants can request a residency lasting between two weeks and three months.
The flexibility allows writers to choose a period that matches the needs of their project. Someone completing a short creative project may require only a few weeks, while an author working on a novel or major translation may benefit from a longer stay.
The final residency duration is determined through the selection process.
Selected residents are allocated one of the foundation's seven private cabins. Applicants applying as a pair are accommodated separately, with a cabin assigned to each person.
Applying for the Jan Michalski Residency requires careful preparation. A strong application should clearly communicate your literary project and explain why dedicated time at the foundation would contribute to its development.
Begin by accessing the relevant application information and online application platform provided by the Fondation Jan Michalski.
Clearly describe the literary project you intend to work on during the residency. Explain what you want to start, continue, or complete.
A focused proposal is more useful than a vague description of your general interest in writing.
Applicants can request a residency period ranging from two weeks to three months.
Consider how much time you genuinely need to make meaningful progress on your project.
State whether you are applying individually or as part of a pair.
If you are applying collaboratively, explain the nature of the collaboration and how the residency will support the project.
Complete the online application and provide all requested information and supporting materials before the relevant deadline.
For the 2026 edition, the deadline stated in the supplied information is 31 August 2026. Applicants should verify the current call and deadline on the foundation's official channels before submitting, especially when applying for a later edition.
Because the Jan Michalski Residency attracts writers internationally, applicants should make their proposals specific and convincing.
Start by defining your project clearly. Instead of simply saying that you want to "write a book," explain what the book is about, what stage it has reached, and what you expect to accomplish during the residency.
You should also explain why the residency environment is appropriate for your work. Mention how uninterrupted time, access to the library, the natural surroundings, or interaction with other residents could contribute to your project.
If your project involves nature writing, sustainability, or environmental themes, clearly explain the connection between the subject and your literary approach.
Applicants should also ensure that their submitted materials are polished, coherent, and consistent with the requirements of the current call.
Yes. According to the supplied program information, selected residents receive travel cost support, a CHF 400 weekly allowance, breakfast and lunch, private accommodation, library access, electric bikes, and opportunities to participate in cultural activities.
Writers and translators of all nationalities and ages can apply. Beginners are welcome. Literary writers and translators receive priority, while applicants from other disciplines may be considered when literature is central to their project.
Selected residents receive a weekly allowance of CHF 400.
The residency can last from two weeks to three months, depending on the application and selection process.
Yes. Applications from pairs are accepted. Each selected participant in a pair receives a separate cabin.
Yes. Applications involving writing in different languages can be considered. The program is internationally oriented and does not restrict applicants to a single language.
A percentage of residencies is dedicated to nature writing. Eligible projects may include fiction or creative nonfiction dealing with nature, sustainability, environmental relationships, and the impact of human activity on the natural world.
The Jan Michalski Residency takes place in Montricher, Switzerland, at the foot of the Swiss Jura Mountains.
No. The supplied information states that families, children, and pets cannot be accommodated.
For writers looking for dedicated time away from daily responsibilities, the Jan Michalski Residency offers an unusual combination of financial assistance, private accommodation, literary resources, and natural surroundings.
The opportunity is especially appealing because it does not limit applicants by nationality or age. Beginners can apply alongside established authors, while translators and writers working in multiple languages are also encouraged to participate.
The nature writing component adds another important dimension. Writers exploring sustainability, environmental issues, or humanity's relationship with the natural world may find the setting particularly inspiring.
Beyond financial support, the greatest benefit may be the time itself.
A residency can provide the uninterrupted space needed to turn an idea into a manuscript, move a stalled project forward, or complete a work that has been developing for months or years.