Literary residencies · Alentejo
Um Quarto Só Seu
A room of her own in the Alentejo.
A four-year programme of literary residencies for women writing in Portuguese, in a house in Alvito, created by the Clube das Mulheres Escritoras with Fundação Alentejo.
The project
More than a writing retreat, the house is a place to write, think and meet: writers from across the Portuguese-speaking world under one roof, then out into the libraries, schools and squares of the Alentejo.
Why it matters
Most readers are women. Most prizes are not.
Women are most of Portugal's readers. Fewer than 30% of Portugal's main literary prizes in the last decade went to women. The José Saramago Prize has gone to two women in 13 editions.
In 1929 Virginia Woolf argued that a woman needs money and a room of her own to write. Um Quarto Só Seu takes her at her word: a private suite in Alvito, a weekly allowance, travel and board covered, from one week to three months.
The writers
35 writers behind it.
Ana Portocarrero, Ana Cristina Silva, Catarina Rodrigues, Célia Correia Loureiro, Cláudia Lucas Chéu, Cristina Drios, Elisabete Martins de Oliveira, Filipa Amorim, Filipa Fonseca Silva, Filipa Mota Nesbitt, Gabriela Relvas, Gabriela Ruivo, Joana Kabuki, Lénia Rufino, Mafalda Santos, Margarida Damião Ferreira, Maria Bravo, Maria Francisca Gama, Rita Canas Mendes, Rita Cruz, Rita da Nova, Sara Rodi, Stephanie Vasconcelos, Valentina Silva Ferreira. Honorary members: Catarina Gomes, Filipa Martins, Joana Bértholo, Judite Canha Fernandes, MG Ferrey, Maria João Lopo de Carvalho, Patrícia Reis, Raquel Ochoa, Susana Piedade, Tânia Ganho.
The Clube
The Clube das Mulheres Escritoras gives Portuguese women writers the visibility the literary world keeps denying them. Talks with Almedina at the CCB, a conference with the José Saramago Foundation, panels at the Lisbon Book Fair.
The programme
A house, a book, a region.
Residencies
Up to 40 women writers a year, 30 chosen by open call every May, in six private suites.
Publications
An annual literary magazine and a final book, Um Quarto Só Delas, given to 1,000 libraries.
Across the Alentejo
A literary meeting every month in libraries and associations, workshops in schools, visits to book clubs.
Who can apply
Women writing in Portuguese, anywhere in the world, emerging or established.
The house
Six rooms in Alvito.
A house in the Alentejo countryside with six private suites, each with its own writing desk, one fully accessible. A shared kitchen and living room, and a garden for writing outdoors.
The residencies
One week to three months.
Short stays
One to two weeks.
Medium
One month.
Long
Two to three months.
An open call every May
Judged by the Clube, Fundação Alentejo, the University of Évora and the Alentejo library network.
Open to women writing in Portuguese, anywhere in the world
Fiction, poetry, essay, drama, graphic novels, children's books, translation and research.
For the writer
What each writer receives.
A weekly allowance to write. Travel paid, up to €1,000. A weekly food basket and insurance. Curatorial support during and after the stay. A chance to publish in the magazine and the book.
Emerging and established writers side by side, with creative follow-up from the Clube's published authors.
Legacy
Books that stay.
An annual literary magazine, four editions of 30 texts each. And a final book, Um Quarto Só Delas, written by the residents with the Alentejo as backdrop, given to 1,000 public, school and university libraries.
Across the Alentejo
Out of the house, into the Alentejo.
A literary meeting every month in Alentejo libraries and cultural associations, 40 over four years. Writing, theatre and reading workshops in schools every quarter. Residents visit local book clubs. All in the years around Évora, European Capital of Culture 2027.
Up to 40 writers a year · 6 private suites · 40 literary events · 1,000 books for libraries
Source: Revista Blitz, 2022. Photos: Clube das Mulheres Escritoras, George Charles Beresford, Vitor Oliveira, Waldyrious, Alvaro Azevedo Moura, Joergsam. Paintings: Jean Honoré Fragonard, Young Girl Reading, c. 1769; Berthe Morisot, Reading, 1873.
Framework
Portugal's Donation Golden Visa (legally, the ARI Cultural route)
Project status
Approved by the Ministry of Culture.
Eligibility
All non-EU citizens.
Donor benefits
Project-specific benefits, shared in donor calls.
The partnership
Who is building Um Quarto Só Seu.
Promoter
Fundação Alentejo
Public-utility foundation in Évora since 1999.
Creator and producer
Clube das Mulheres Escritoras
35 Portuguese women writers, published by the country's leading publishers.
Cultural Co-Producer
Cascais Ventures
The leading cultural creation agency in Portugal.
Who we are
Cascais Ventures creates and produces the government-approved cultural projects behind Portugal's Donation Golden Visa: heritage rehabilitation, film and documentary, artistic programmes.