Residency call

We are looking to support three CBCP residencies to enliven and engage with material from the Archive of British Printing and Publishing and the Lettering, Printing and Graphic Design Collections at the University of Reading that underpin much CBCP research.

We are calling for interest in residencies in writing, in translation, and in printing—all broadly defined.

The residencies are intended to contribute to our academic and public-facing programmes to encourage creative and practical understanding of publishing and printing at Reading through engagement with academic researchers, students, and the public.

The CBCP printer-in-residence will be based in the Historic Presses Research and Teaching Workshop using the presses and printing equipment to support exploration of the material attributes of books and documents to better understand the creative and practical decision-making involved in material in the University’s Collections.

The CBCP translator-in-residence will use material from the Collections to explore ideas about verbal and graphic translation that stimulate engagement with readers, designers, publishers and/or public audiences.

The CBCP writer/editor-in-residence will demonstrate inspiration from the Collections to stimulate long- or short-form written work (which may be produced for reading or performance).

As well as producing a body of work (analogue and/or digital), those appointed to the residencies will

  • through blog posts and/or exhibitions demonstrate the relationship between the created work and the influences from the Collection
  • run show-and-tell workshops for researchers and students
  • convene one public-facing event with the support of CBCP staff which could be a lecture, roundtable, or in-conversation session.

We will provide:

  • an honorarium of £2500 (subject to UK tax and national insurance) to be spent on travel and subsistence to support presence at the University of Reading
  • support from CBCP for events and exhibition
  • support in exploring opportunities for further funding (eg for research or related engagement projects)
  • mentorship from a member of the CBCP management team

The appointments can be taken up flexibly between January and July 2027, with mutually agreed start and end dates, to support those with caring and other responsibilities, but all expenses must be submitted by Friday 9th July 2027.

Closing date: December 1st 2026, 5pm UK time.  Results will be communicated by Friday 11 December 2026.

Initial enquires should be sent to s.f.walker@reading.ac.uk / s.l.heywood@reading.ac.uk  / n.l.wilson@reading.ac.uk

More detailed info about the CBCP

Home – Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing (reading.ac.uk)

The CBCP brings a distinctive combination of expertise to ensure study of the diffusion of knowledge and power across borders is multilingual, attuned to the role of technology and design, attentive to the politics of the global and the local, and integrates study of often marginalised actors and readers. The University of Reading’s renowned collections in book, printing and publishing history, and facilities and technical expertise to explore the making of type and printing processes, contribute to CBCP’s work, to drive new ways of understanding how books are produced, distributed and read in global contexts today and in the past.

CBCP aligns expertise in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian-language publishing and book history, with transatlantic and European research partnerships in typography and book design (Latin and non-Latin scripts), and in the printing and publishing trades. Researchers in the centre have shared interests in the materiality of text and image (analogue and digital), and in how digital methods can enhance scholarship. CBCP has a wide network of international libraries, galleries, museums, professional societies and organisations with which to collaborate.

The CBCP aims:

  • To promote interdisciplinary research that draws on Reading’s distinctive strengths in book cultures and publishing. It acts as a network drawing together expertise across the University.
  • To build on considerable success in grant capture in this area to ensure sustainability and promote further growth. It is well-placed to develop internationally-connected research projects to address global challenges in cultural heritage.
  • To raise the profile of the University’s internationally significant collections in the history of books, publishing and printing, by acting as a hub for an existing global network of partners, and forging new partnerships with cultural heritage organisations, comparable research institutions, and in the creative industries.
  • To ensure research sustainability through supporting early career research, including doctoral study and through championing diversity.

We welcome applications from printers/writers at any stage of their professional career.

Application Process

The completed application (please submit in word or as a pdf to the cbcp@reading.ac.uk) should include:

  • Personal details (name and contact details – phone, email, postal address).
  • A Printer/Translator/Writer’s Statement of up to 250 words, which should include reference to your practice.
  • A Project Statement of up to 500 words, highlighting your relevant experience, skills and interests and outlining your thinking in relation to the residency. This should include information such as the questions you would hope to address, potential sources/collections you would be interested in consulting, workshop ideas, and how you would plan to carry out your practice and research process. Please make clear how this residency will build upon your existing portfolio.
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
  • Details, including email address, of two referees who can be contacted should the application be shortlisted