$50,000 creative writing fellowship announced in landmark year
The State Library of NSW is excited to announce its newest initiatives for writers and researchers – a $50,000 creative writing fellowship and $10,000 Summer Scholars Program – launched today as the Library’s prestigious Fellowship Program turns 50.
According to State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon: “For 50 years researchers, writers and historians have been sharing their knowledge, their discoveries and their stories through the support of the State Library. I am incredibly proud that we have been able to support 179 fellowships totalling $2.6 million since 1974.”
“What better way to mark this occasion than with two new fantastic opportunities for researchers and creatives at the early stage of their careers.”
The $50,000 Imago Creative Writing Fellowship, made possible through a generous anonymous benefactor, aims to support an emerging writer to produce a non-fiction or fiction work of any genre.
“I was eager to support a literary project judged on its creativity as well as its importance to our cultural life,” said the benefactor.
The Summer Scholars Program, supported by the Library Foundation, will provide 10 people (5 PhD students and 5 creative practitioners) with the opportunity to learn important archival research skills that they can take with them into the next stage of their careers. Each successful candidate will receive $1,000.
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Fellowships and Scholars Program, with $186,000 on offer.
- Imago Creative Writing Fellowship ($50,000)
- Australian Religious History Fellowship ($20,000)
- Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellowship ($25,000)
- CH Currey Fellowship ($20,000)
- Nancy Keesing AM Fellowship ($25,000)
- David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship ($12,000)
- Merewether Fellowship ($12,000)
- Ross Steele Fellowship AM ($12,000)
- Summer Scholar, 10 positions ($1000)
- Visiting Scholar (unfunded)
Applications close 5pm, Friday 12 July.