Writers in Residence
Supported by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and the Centre for Dutch and Flemish Studies, German Studies has been host to numerous contemporary German women writers.
Our Writers in Residence participate in the teaching of language and non-language modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level. in addition, we host research seminars and conferences open to all exploring the work of these writers.
Outreach activities involving local schools, pre-school and the wider community are an integral part of every visit.
Writer in Residence 2017: Carmien Michels
From 27 Feb - 1 March 2017, Carmien Michels came to visit the Dutch students as this year's Writer in Residence.
Final year students discussed Carmien's Citybook text about the German city of Münster, which they are currently translating into English in collaboration with students from Sheffield and London. They also attended a final translation plenary at the University of Sheffield to discuss difficult translation issues with Carmien Michels and Jonathan Reeder as professional translator and to finalise the translation project. This was sponsored by the Dutch Language Union, the Representation of the Flemish government in the UK, the ALCS and the Centre for Dutch-Flemish studies.
Carmien also visited the Dutch stage 1 and stage 2 students in the Language Centre. Students have been experimenting with Slam Poetry (Carmien Michels is the European Champion in it) and performed their work in front of the other students. Another way of practising Dutch, and an unforgettable experience for the students.
Writer in Residence 2016: Rebekka de Wit
From 7-11 March 2016 Rebekka de Wit was our Writer in Residence.
Rebekka de Wit is a Dutch writer and theatre maker. In 2015 she published her debut novel We komen nog één wonder tekort (We’re Short by Just One Miracle). As part of the citybooks project Rebekka de Wit wrote two citybooks, As Venice is Now, and in the winter of 2015 her latest citybook about Antwerp.
Organised by our Dutch teacher Ann Claeys, Rebekka de Wit worked with our students of Dutch during her stay. Rebekka’s visit was part of a joint Translation Project with The University of Sheffield.
Rebekka also hosted a literary afternoon, where current students had a chance to talk to Rebekka about her citybooks and other work!
Writer in Residence 2015: Ulrike Almut Sandig
From 26-7 February 2015 Ulrike Almut Sandig (Leipzig, Berlin) visited German Studies at The University of Nottingham with her translator Karen Leeder (New College, University of Oxford). Over the course of two days, Sandig participated in a number of events:
- A translation workshop led by UA Sandig and K Leeder attended by staff, students and Y12 pupils from Brunts Academy and with an introductory lecture on 'Literary Translation' by Kathryn Batchelor
- A research symposium examining Sandig's prose and poetry from a range of critical perspectives with papers by Elizabeth Boa, Heike Bartel and Nicola Thomas.
- An event premiering new performance poetry created especially for UA Sandig's visit to the UK
- A special performance by UA Sandig and K Leeder as part of the series Encounters: Writers and Translators in Conversation.
Previous Writers in Residence can be found here (PDF)