“Between the Lines” Creative Writing for Teenagers – Slovakia

Between the Lines (BTL) has hosted young writers at the University of Iowa for a cultural exchange program that focuses on the art and craft of creative writing. Participants ages 15-18 come together in Iowa City or online for an intensive two-week session, and for the first time since 2019, BTL will be in-person, and there will be two sessions: Between the Lines: Peace and the Writing Experience, which will run from June 9-22, 2024, and Between the Lines: Identity and Belonging, which will run from June 30-July 14, 2024.  Each session will bring together 20 international (non-U.S.) and 10 U.S.-based students, ages 15–18, for two weeks of intensive BTL summer programming hosted by IWP and the University of Iowa.

Both sessions of BTL will transcend social distances by offering an intensive creative writing program combined with the exciting discoveries of intercultural exchange. Through honing their craft together and engaging in open-hearted discussions, a new community of young writers will connect the dots between their home cultures, sparking friendships throughout the U.S. and around the globe.

With award-winning U.S. and international faculty as their mentors, participants will spend 2–4 hours a day in creative writing workshops, world literature seminars, literary readings and Q&As with visiting authors, plus social opportunities for cultural exchange, group and individual writing assignments outside of class, and more. All programming will be conducted in English.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events.

Logistics

• Funds from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will cover the cost of travel, per diem, and other expenses associated with the young writers’ and chaperones’ stay in the United States. Funds may be available to support in-country travel for visa interviews.
• All foreign participants will travel to the United States on J-1 visas. When traveling on a J-1 visa, exchange participants are typically not allowed to arrive in the U.S. prior to the start date of the program or to remain in the U.S. after its end date. Violations of program rules, host institution rules, or local, state, or federal laws can be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program. The U.S. Embassy in Bratislava will work with the finalist candidate to secure their visa if selected for the program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The program is designed for talented young writers who show promise to become future literary figures in their respective countries and in their native languages. Students must be:
  • Between the ages of 15-18 as of July 14, 2024;
  • Proficient in English (reading, writing, and speaking);
  • Able to participate effectively in intercultural exchange.
• IWP and ECA will strive for gender, geographic, ethnic, linguistic, and sexual orientation diversity. The final selection of participants will be determined by ECA and IWP. In addition to the 20 international students selected for each BTL program, several students will be chosen as alternates.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Slovakia.