Each quarter, our partner Cempedak invites a Southeast Asian writer to the island for the Cempedak Residency. Led by artistic director Ken Kwek and co-directed by Pam Ng, the residency is guided by the principles of immersion, interaction and inscription, offering new and established writers the space to explore the history, culture and ecology of the Riau Archipelago.

During their stay, residents connect with the local community through readings, discussions and nature walks, and produce a Cempedak monograph, which can be a short story, poetry series or essay. We are excited to announce that Filipino poet and activist Amanda Echanis, author of Binhi ng Paglaya, has been chosen from our festival as the residency’s next writer.