Residencies for writers: Notes on their implementation

Abstract

Cities go through changes that require specific adaptation responses. It is an opportunity for cultural production to help cities solve their problems creatively. This is the case of the residences for writers that, after emerging more than half a century ago, are still operative. However, in several Latin American countries they do not exist, although they can improve the quality of life of people who want to become writers and they have a positive impact on daily living in the city. Nonetheless, to allow this, cities first need to recognize residences for writers as part of the set of actions that can inform the design and development of public cultural policy creatively. This paper presents some guidelines for the discussion on their implementation in medium-size cities, such as Ambato (Ecuador), which is the case used as a reference.