The Ramon Llull Institute is organizing a paid creative residency for 5 illustrators at Faberllull Olot to work on editorial assignments proposed by 5 international publishers in order to publish them in their respective markets. 

In collaboration with the Ramon Llull Institute, 5 international publishers interested in commissioning illustrators each submit a project. Simultaneously, the IRL is organizing a call for illustrators residing in Catalonia or the Balearic Islands to submit their candidacies. Their profiles and portfolios will then be examined. 

Next, the international publishers will choose a maximum of three illustrators who, on a paid basis, will work on specific proposals related to the projects received. Based on these proposals, each publisher will choose an illustrator to begin a professional partnership that will be based during the residency at Faberllull Olot. 

9 February – 20 March:  call for illustrators to submit their applications

25 March – 8 April: pre-selected candidates by the publishing houses are notified individually. 

8 April – 20 May: deadline for submitting proposals by the pre-selected illustrators based on the publishing projects. 

8 June – 19 June: announcement of the illustrators and projects selected by the publishers; first online meeting between the publisher, the illustrator and the IRL to set out the details of the partnership and the objectives of the November residency. 

9 November - 20 November: residency at Faberllull Olot, where the selected illustrators will focus on the assignment and the relationship with the publisher, which will monitor the creative process through regular virtual meetings. 

 The residency will allow publishers and illustrators to get started on the project. Work will most likely extend beyond the two weeks at Faberllull - Olot. Ideally, the process should end with the publication of the work. In this case, both parties will formalise their collaboration with a contract.

If the result of the creative residency does not fit in with the publisher's plans and the publisher decides not to go ahead with the publication of the work, the illustrators will have the right to use the content created as they deem appropriate without infringing upon the interests or the intellectual property of the publisher.

The Ramon Llull Institute envisages remuneration of €200 for each illustrator pre-selected by the publishers, and €400 net for each illustrator selected for the residency at Faberllull. 

Faberllull – Olot covers accommodation and half board (breakfast and dinner). 

If the project is published, the illustrator and the publisher will have to negotiate a contract stipulating remuneration. 

The participating international publishers are: 

• Aletria – Brazil 
• Claraboya – Chile 
• Everafter Books – China 
• Gerstenberg – Germany 
• Natur & Kultur - Sweden

Candidate selection criteria are: 

Essential requirements: 

• Reside in Catalonia or the Balearic Islands 
• Have a minimum of three published works 
• Be fluent in English 

The following merits will be considered: 

• Have published works in Catalan 
• Have published works with foreign publishers 
• Have experience of editorial commissions (especially from foreign publishers) 
• Have an official certificate in proof of their level of English 

The aim of the initiative is (1) to promote the publication of Catalan and Balearic illustrators abroad; and (2) to encourage international publishers to commission Catalan and Balearic illustrators.

To subscribe to the Institut Ramon Llull’s newsletter for Authors to receive more information about new initiatives, please send an email to literature@llull.cat

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