The Anne Edgeworth Young Writers’ Fellowship

—  Information and Expression of Interest Form —

Introduction

Anne Edgeworth (also known as Anne Godfrey-Smith) was a prominent poet, writer, theatre director, academic, conservationist and activist for reconciliation. She died in June 2011. Anne mentored many young writers as a tutor, author and poet and her family has established an annual award for young writers in her memory. More information about Anne can be found at Obituaries Online: http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/godfrey-smith-anne-14017

The Anne Edgeworth Writers’ Fellowship is provided to an emerging young writer in the Canberra Region. The Fellowship is worth up to $5,000 and is to be used to advance the recipients’ education in the craft of writing. The Fellowship is provided annually by the Anne Edgeworth Trust and is administered by the ACT Writers Centre.

Eligibility

To be eligible to be considered for the Fellowship you must:

1.  live in the ACT or one of the nearby NSW Local Government Areas (Young, Harden, Gundagai, Tumut, Boorowa, Yass Valley, Upper Lachlan, Goulburn, Mulwaree, Wingecarribee, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, Bombala, Cooma Monaro, and Snowy River);

2.  be under the age of 35 at 30 November 2017; and

3.  be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.

Forms of Writing

The Fellowship will be made for work in the field of poetry, fiction writing, nonfiction writing, screenwriting and/or playwriting.

Purpose, duration and community outreach

The Fellowship can be used for any purpose that furthers the recipients’ education in their chosen field of literature and must be associated with a tertiary institution or other educational institution concerned with creative writing such as the ACT Writers Centre. For example: tuition fees, travel, accommodation, printing and publishing, editing, writers’ retreat etc (‘the project’). The funds cannot be used to purchase capital equipment (eg computers) or subsidise an existing commercial or non-profit activity.

The project must be completed within a twelve month period.

During the course of the project the recipient is to provide some insight into the project to the general writing community either through a lecture, seminar, workshop, written report, article, video or similar (‘community outreach’) or combination of the above. This must be outlined in the application.

Application process

The application process consists of two stages. The first stage requires the applicant to submit an expression of interest (EOI) on the attached form due to the ACT Writers Centre by 4pm, Friday 6 October 2017. A panel established by the ACT Writers Centre will assess the EOI. The panel will draw up a short-list of potential recipients. A short-listed recipient will be invited to make a short presentation about their application at a face-to-face discussion in Canberra with the judging panel.

In 2017 this presentation will take place Mid-November. The panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into about the process. All applications and judge’s commentary will remain confidential and will not be released by the ACT Writers Centre. The successful applicant (or applicants—up to two awards (not exceeding $5000 in total) may be made) will be notified by Friday 1 December 2017. Funds may, at the discretion of the ACT Writers Centre, be provided in two or more tranches, depending on the meeting of fellowship milestones. It is possible that ten percent of the award will be kept aside until all milestones are met.

Please note that only one EOI per applicant can be submitted.

Judging Criteria

Applications will be considered based on the following criteria:

1. How original is the project? Does it have literary merit?

2. How much experience does the applicant have? Has he or she demonstrated the capacity to complete the project to a high standard?

3. What does the applicant expect to learn from the project?

4. How will the project benefit other emerging writers and the literary community in the ACT and surrounding regions?

5. How will the funds be spent? Is the budget detailed and realistic? Could the project be completed without funding from the Anne Edgeworth Trust?

Management

Day to day management of the award is undertaken by the Centre Director of the ACT Writers Centre. Any substantive changes to the scope or purpose of the project during its implementation must be approved by the Centre Director.

Dispute resolution

Should any dispute arise between the ACT Writers Centre and the Award Recipient that cannot be solved by negotiation between the two parties, the dispute will be resolved through mediation by the ACT Conflict Resolution Service.

Completion

The Award will be considered completed when the following milestones are met:

1.  The project is finished;

2.  Any financial acquittals (if required) are provided to the ACT Writers Centre; and

3.  The recipient provides the community outreach.

Expression of Interest

Anne Edgeworth Young Writers’ Fellowship

Name:

Address:

Date of Birth:

Email:

Phone Number:

Total cost of your proposed project:

(Note: If you are shortlisted you are to bring a detailed budget to your presentation).

Explain in no more than 250 words of the purpose to which you will put your Fellowship (‘the project’):

Explain in no more than 200 words how the project would benefit you as a writer.

Explain in no more than 100 words what community outreach you expect you will provide during your project.

Explain in no more than 100 words how the project would benefit the ACT Writers Centre and its literary community.

In no more than 200 words tell us about your background as a writer/poet/screen-writer/playwright etc. Mention any published or performed works (Note: If you are shortlisted for an award you will be invited to bring examples of your published or performed works to the presentation). You may enclose no more than two examples of your work (published or unpublished) to this expression of interest.

Please upload the completed form at the following Submittable link by 4pm Friday 6 October: https://actwriters.submittable.com/submit/93993/anne-edgeworth-young-writers-fellowship