Residencies - literature

Residencies foster excellence in writing by providing individual writers with a supportive environment for professional development, research and creative risk-taking.

Closing date: 15 March 2008
Decisions advised: July 2008
Projects may start: 10 August 2008

About this category

Residencies foster excellence in writing by providing individual writers with a supportive environment for professional development, research and creative risk-taking. Support is available to individual writers and picture book illustrators through residencies and studios in Australia and overseas. Residencies were formerly known as skills and arts development grants.

Who is eligible to apply?

This category is open to individual writers only. To be eligible, applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements and the specific eligibility requirements given below.

Individuals must have achieved at least one of the following minimum publication/performance requirements:

One full-length work published (including works of young adult literature or junior fiction over 30,000 words) or one full- length work performed
Five children’s books published (up to 30,000 words).

These works must have been published by professional publishers with effective national distribution or performed/produced by professional theatre companies or radio stations.

Self-funded publications are accepted as evidence of eligibility only if the applicant can provide evidence of national distribution and at least one substantial review of the work in an established literary journal or general national magazine or major newspaper.

Applications to write in languages other than English are not eligible under this category. Support for writers who are writing in languages other than English is provided through the Languages other than English (LOTE) publishing initiative.

How often can you apply?

Applicants who apply for a residency may not apply for a new work grant or fellowship in the same year.

The following buffer periods apply:

Recipients of one-year new work or skills and arts development grants in 2007 cannot apply to this category in 2008
Recipients of a two-year established writers’ grant awarded in 2006 or 2007 cannot apply in 2008
Recipients of fellowships since 2004 may not apply to this category in 2008.

Applicants may apply for either:

One or more of the literature board’s overseas studio residencies, or
A self-organised residency or studio.

Studio residencies

Writers who meet the eligibility requirements set out above may apply for a literature board overseas studio residency as described below.

The Keesing Studio, Paris, France or the BR Whiting Library, Rome, Italy

These six-month residencies will take place between 1 February - 28 July 2009 and 1 August 2009 - 28 January 2010. Successful applicants will receive a living allowance of $12,000 for six months and up to $3000 towards travel costs. Successful applicants who are on paid leave at the time of the residency, will receive the travel component only.

In accordance with the conditions under which the literature board administers the BR Whiting Library in Rome, preference will be given to Australian poets.

The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, County Monaghan, Ireland

One three-month or two six-week residencies will take place between May and September each year. Successful applicants will receive full board and accommodation and up to $3000 towards travel costs.

Ledig House, Art Omi International Arts Centre, Columbia County, New York, US

This two-month residency takes place between April and May or September and October each year. The successful applicant will receive full board and accommodation and up to $3000 towards travel costs. The literature board candidate for this residency may be required to submit a separate application to the Ledig House advisory board.

Other residencies and studios

Individual writers who meet the eligibility requirements set out above may apply for a self-organised Australian or overseas studio residency that will allow them time and space to develop their own writing. The studio or residency must be of good repute and be able to offer appropriate facilities to support the planned project.

The literature board may offer successful applicants for overseas residencies, including self-organised overseas residencies, up to $1000 towards travel and accommodation expenses for participation in seminars, readings and other literary events during the residency period. Successful applicants for self-organised residencies within Australia, may apply for up to $500 towards travel and accommodation expenses for participation in seminars, readings and other literary events during the residency period. An itinerary and budget must be submitted to the literature board for approval prior to undertaking any additional travel.

Please note that monetary amounts are in Australian dollars.

What are the selection criteria?

Applications must demonstrate:

Literary merit, understood to include the applicant’s writing ability as demonstrated by their support material, together with the creative substance of the nominated project
Potential to contribute to the individual’s professional development
In the case of self-organised residencies, high professional standing of the organisation or group or body providing the residency and ability to provide appropriate facilities and support for the individual undertaking the residency.