The 2025 Writer-in-Residence Programme culminated last week in the Bermuda National Gallery hosting public readings with participants.

Attendees were treated to poems and excerpts from short stories submitted and developed during its workshops.

Nailah Imoja, an award-winning writer who worked with the writers, introduced them at last Saturday’s event and highlighted their talents.

“From the first day, I said they don’t need me,” she said. “These are writers. Bermuda has some incredibly talented writers.”

After the participants’ readings, Ms Imoja read excerpts from her own pieces, including Jamaica’s Exam, which won the Frank Collymore Literary Endowment Award in January. It is Barbados’s most prestigious literary award.

She concluded by thanking the Department of Culture for inviting her to conduct the workshops, calling the experience a privilege.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism and Transport, Culture and Sport, said: “This reading event showcased the incredible literary talent fostered through the Writer-in-Residence Programme.

“Ms Imoja’s dedication and expertise have provided a platform for Bermudian writers to develop their craft, and we are grateful for her contribution.”

• For further information about the Writer-in-Residence Programme, visit www.culture.bm or call the Department of Culture on 292-1681