WELCOME TO HALD

Since 1999, the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators has offered Danish authors, translators and illustrators free working residencies at the old manor Hald Hovedgaard, situated 10 kilometres from the town of Viborg, in the middle of Denmark.

Each year 160-180 Danish authors, translators and illustrators spend from one to four weeks in working residency in one of the main building’s 8 rooms or in one of the separate, little houses known as “The Blacksmith’s House” or “The Chapel”.

Hald Hovedgaard has established itself fundamentally as a centre for Danish authors and translators, but writers from abroad have also found their way to Hald. These foreign authors have either come to Hald in connection with proper writers’ retreats like The Danish-American Writers’ Retreat (www.haldhovedgaard.dk/writersretreat) that was held in May 2007, or in connection with author and translator exchange programs such as Baltic Ring III (www.ekl.ee/balticring).

Inviting foreign writers to Hald has proven to be a fruitful experience. It is always a good idea for Danish authors to meet colleagues from other countries and other cultures, and what better way than to live next door to them for a week or two in the beautiful setting of the old manor that houses the centre? Likewise, it is good for writers from abroad to visit Denmark and learn something about Danish writers and Danish literature.

The summer of 2009 will saw the launching of the program “International Residency for Writers at Hald”, called H.A.L.D. (Housing Authors & Literature, Denmark).

The H.A.L.D. program was succesfully repeated in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and will be repeated in the summer of 2013.

The H.A.L.D. 2013 program will invite four foreign writers to live and work at Hald Manor House for 4 weeks from July 15. 2013.

By the end of January 2013 the call for applications will be announced. Deadline for application will be April 1. 2013