Heidi North-Bailey joins 2016 Shanghai Writing Program

24th May 2016

Heidi North-Bailey joins 2016 Shanghai Writing Program

Heidi North-Bailey has been selected as the second New Zealand writer to join the Shanghai Writers’ Association’s International Writing Program. Heidi is an Auckland based poet, short story and creative non-fiction writer.

This opportunity is available through a partnership between the Michael King Writers’ Centre, the New Zealand China Friendship Society, the Shanghai Writers’ Association and the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Heidi says: “I am delighted to take up the residency in Shanghai and I'm honoured to be chosen. I look forward to the research opportunities for my novel, which set partially in Shanghai, and the cross cultural opportunities with the other writing fellows. I also look forward to the golden space and time to write, what a gift!

Heidi will join writers from Argentina, Spain, Israel, Russia, USA, and Poland for two months in Shanghai in September and October this year. The writers receive free accommodation in an inner-city apartment, a small stipend for living expenses and air travel.

Since the exchange began in 2013 two Chinese writers have enjoyed a residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre. In 2013 Huo Yan, a young writing star from Beijing, took up the first Rewi Alley Fellowship and in 2015 acclaimed novelist Xiao Bai from Shanghai was the second resident. In 2014 Alison Wong was the first New Zealand writer selected to join international writers’ programme in Shanghai.

Michael King Writers’ Centre Chair Catriona Ferguson says that the exchange with Shanghai provides the opportunity for New Zealand writers to experience living and writing in a vibrant part of the world. “We are pleased that our partnership offers this experience for the benefit of New Zealand writers.”

NZ China Friendship Society President Dave Bromwich said "It is pleasing to see an Auckland based poet selected as the next Shanghai Writers' Fellow. It reminds us that RAK Mason was the first NZCFS National President."

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