16 May Record number of applications by Ukrainian literary creators for the stay in KROKODIL’s Residency for Writers/Results of the open call
We are pleased to announce the results of the open call for the residency program Spaces of Resilience 2.0, dedicated exclusively to Ukrainian literary creators and supported by ERSTE Foundation.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the Association KROKODIL is organizing this residential program. For the first cycle of residencies, spread over 2022 and 2023, we received a total of 10 applications for 8 available residences. For the second cycle in 2024, we had 13 applicants, of whom only two could be supported. This year, a record number of 85 candidates from across Ukraine submitted their applications, including many well-known names and even some titled “living legends of Ukrainian literature,” reflecting a huge interest in and need for programs of this kind.
It was not an easy task for our selection committee (Alla Tatarenko, Vladimir Arsenijević, and Andriy Lyubka) to choose the residency recipients among so many high-quality applicants. However, after careful review and consideration, three outstanding literary creators were selected to participate in the residency program: Iya Kiva (June), and Mykola Riabchuk and Natalia Bilotserkivets (August). These individuals exemplify artistic excellence, innovative voices, and a strong commitment to both literature and political engagement.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the chosen candidates and thank all applicants for their interest, passion, and dedication.
We hope to continue this program and host even more Ukrainian literary creators in the future!
The first cycle, Spaces of Freedom (2022–2023), was supported by the European Cultural Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Erste Stiftung, Artist at Risk, FRIDA, and Pobunjene čitateljke; the second cycle, Spaces of Resilience (2024), was supported by the European Cultural Foundation, Heinrich Böll Stiftung and Erste Stiftung; and the third cycle, Spaces of Resilience 2.0 (2025), is supported by Erste Stiftung.
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The KROKODIL Association is the first NGO or think tank in Serbia actively focused on helping citizens of Ukraine and organizing various activities aimed at changing the dominant perception of the public regarding the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Collecting and personally delivering humanitarian aid for the Municipal Perinatal Center in Kharkiv and for the Social Center in Bližniuki was followed by a series of field stories, a travelogue published under the name “12to8.” The last KROKODIL trip to Ukraine culminated in the purchase of 400 books for the first Ukrainian library in Serbia, which was opened on May 2nd, 2023, at the KROKODIL Center with the presence and support of eight independent local publishers. Additionally, some of the other ongoing programs that KROKODIL focuses on include providing shelter, workspace, and support to Ukrainian literary creators and associations; organizing creative workshops for children from Ukraine; and hosting various debates and panel discussions. For these reasons, the Association KROKODIL has received several awards at local, regional, and international levels.