Residency Fellowship at the Heidi House (Silke Weitendorf Foundation)

The Silke Weitendorf Foundation for the Promotion of Children's Literature at the Heidi-Oetinger-Haus is awarding two one-month residency scholarships for emerging authors and illustrators in the field of children's and youth literature for the first time in October 2026. The exclusive retreat located in the historic Heidi House in Hamburg-Duvenstedt offers the scholarship recipients an inspiring ambiance with original wallpaper and thematically designed work and sleeping rooms. The aim of the funding is to provide intensive support for artistic and scholarly projects by young talents who wish to dedicate themselves to the development of texts or illustrations. The program concludes on Saturday, 31 October 2026, with a matinee at the Heidi-Oetinger-Haus, during which the results produced will be presented to the public.

Applications can be submitted until 30 April 2026. Requirements include a detailed CV, two work samples (text and/or illustration), and a precise project proposal with a work plan outlining the content of the project and the planned steps. The one-month funding period begins on 12 October 2026 and ends with the final event on 31 October 2026. Participants will have the opportunity to use the Foundation’s Children's Literature Archive for their own research and to exchange ideas with other emerging artists. The scholarship recipients will benefit from professional guidance and an inspiring environment that offers space for both creative work and scholarly activity.