Calling creative artists and writers: 2021 creative arts fellowships are now open

The National Library of Australia’s Creative Arts Fellowships offer practising artists and writers the opportunity to develop an artistic concept or work that is inspired or informed by the Library’s collections.

Two fellowships are available: the Creative Arts Fellowship for artists working in any medium other than writing, including music, dance, visual arts, emerging or experimental artforms; and the Creative Arts Fellowship for Australian Writing.

Director-General of the National Library of Australia, Dr Marie-Louise Ayres, has encouraged artists and writers to apply now.

‘The Library’s collections hold millions of artefacts that can inform and guide an immeasurable number of projects. Every year we look forward to seeing what some of the Nation’s best imaginations will put forward for consideration, and how these projects will showcase the Library’s vast collections. It’s particularly important that we can offer these fellowships to artists and writers at this unique time in our shared history,’ Dr Ayres said.

Receiving $10,000 for travel, accommodation support and project expenses, successful Fellows will undertake a four-week residency at the National Library in Canberra. During this time, they will have special and supported access to collections, and access to office facilities.

Previous successful projects include of a book of prose poetry and drawings informed by the life of Bpangerang custodian of goanna songlines, Charlotte Clark, the planned production of a new body of abstract paintings following an investigation into material from the Sidney Nolan collection and a new work of historical fiction set in the stark landscape of 1917 rural Victoria.

The National Library invites applications from individual creative practitioners who are Australian Citizens or permanent residents and practising in a professional forum. Applicants can be at any stage of their professional career and working in any art form or writing genre.

Applications for the 2021 program close at 5pm (AEST), Friday 10 July 2020.

More information and the online application form are available on the National Library of Australia’s website: https://www.nla.gov.au/awards-and-grants/creative-arts-fellowship 

The Creative Arts Fellowship is supported by the Friends of the National Library of Australia. The Creative Arts Fellowship for Australian Writing is supported by the Ray Mathew and Eva Kollsman Trust.