This spring, Narva Art Residency (NART) and the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre announced their third annual call for applications for children’s literature residencies. Two creatives were selected through the competition and they will live and work in Narva during September and October of 2025. This year’s residents are Estonian illustrator Helena Pass and author and artist Bomi Son from South Korea.
As in 2024, the competition attracted 54 applications, reflecting the interest and enthusiasm among children’s literature creators. The residency was open to both Estonian and international writers and illustrators. The jury included Triin Soone (Director of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre), Anne Pikkov (illustrator and NART board member), Katrin Reinmaa (head of publishing house Päike ja Pilv), and Johanna Rannula (director of NART).
The residency includes a grant of €3000 (€1500 per author) and one-month accommodation at Narva Art Residency in early autumn 2025. Both authors will conduct workshops with local children and the community in Narva.
Helena Pass plans to create an interactive picture book about the unique summer houses, or “dachas,” in the Kulgu area of Narva. Children will be able to cut out illustrated elements from the book’s pages and paste them together to form new buildings. The project aims to document Narva’s dacha culture and highlight the everyday magic of the area. In the workshops, children will create imaginative summer homes under Helena’s guidance.
Bomi Son will create a children’s book for readers aged 4–7 about a duck and a cat who discover their differences and similarities, helping them become friends and eventually a family. The central theme of the story is accepting differences and finding a sense of belonging. Bomi also plans to host workshops where traditional homemade recipes from both Narva and Korea are shared and made, to foster intercultural understanding.
More information:
Johanna Rannula
NART director
johanna.rannula@artun.ee
+372 59177795
