The Northern Territory (NT) Government through Arts NT will partner with Varuna, the National Writers’ House, to present a new virtual 2020 Fellowship program open to applicants from Tuesday, 14 July 2020.

Since 2017, Arts NT has partnered with Varuna to support local emerging or established NT writers to develop new work in creative writing through the Varuna Fellowship program.

Responding to travel restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, the program has been adapted to offer online fellowships in 2020.

The Territory Government will contribute $16 000 towards the new Varuna Fellowship program, offering six virtual fellowships in 2020 and three residency fellowships in 2021 to NT writers.

The virtual residency program will run from 30 November – 5 December 2020. Applications close on Friday, 31 August 2020. The fellowships will include a combination of online sessions with expert writing consultants including NT based Dr Leni Shilton, who was recently awarded best fiction book in the 2020 Chief Minister’s Awards.

Successful writers will have access to professional networking and development opportunities facilitated by the NT Writers’ Centre including reading sessions with award-winning authors Alexis Wright (winner of the 2006 Miles Franklin Award) and Territory playwright Mary Anne Butler (winner of the 2016 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the Award for Drama).

In 2019, the residency program supported two Alice Springs and two Darwin based writers to develop a range of works, including:

• Stark by Sam Carmody (Darwin) - his second fiction novel following his debut novel ‘The Windy Season’, Stark is about the threads that connect a history of violence, and the secrets that refuse to be buried.
• The Trouble with Hopscotch by Mhairi Duncan (Darwin) -  a series of 15 interlinking short stories that delve into the private struggles of everyday life of those living in a small community.
• Interiority – a volume of poetry by Gretel Bull (Alice Springs) - a collection of poems that journey into the psyche of the poet and her encounters with the history, culture and landscape of Central Australia, amidst the ongoing throes of colonisation.
• Funny Rabbit by Biddy O’Loughlin (Alice Springs) - a film script and web series set between Alice Springs and Adelaide about a sad rabbit that becomes a stand-up comedian.

Residencies will also be offered at Varuna from January-June 2021. The Residency fellowships will include a two-week residency at Varuna, allowing uninterrupted writing time, plus $1500 in funding to support individual expenses including travel, manuscript consultations, or accommodation in Sydney on the way through to the Blue Mountains.

Through the NT Arts Grants Program, the Territory Government will also provide Step Out Community Access Services Incorporated (Step Out) $24 844 to deliver a Disability Arts program in partnership with Katherine Regional Arts in 2020-21.

Step Out and Katherine Regional Arts will work together to deliver workshops over 42 weeks with two resulting exhibitions planned. A group exhibition showcasing all participants’ artworks will be held at the Katherine Cinema Foyer and a solo exhibition featuring Lajamanu artist Ms Amy Pitcher is planned to take place at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre in 2021.

For more information on Arts NT Grants, visit https://nt.gov.au/leisure/arts-culture-heritage/arts-funding-and-grants

For more information on Varuna, The National Writers’ House, visit https://www.varuna.com.au/fellowships/artsnt

Quotes from Director Arts NT, Angela Hill:

“It’s more important than ever that we support our creative industries sector to adapt to the challenges faced by COVID-19, so they can continue to create new work, as well as develop their professional skills, networks and income opportunities.

“The 2020 Varuna Fellowships program presents an excellent opportunity for writers from across the Territory to develop new work in any field of creative writing; from literary fiction, illustration and graphic novels, non-fiction and podcasts, to poetry, screenplays, scripts and young adult, junior fiction. 

“The Territory Government recognises the importance of disability arts programs like the workshops and exhibitions to be delivered by Step Out in partnership with Katherine Regional Arts. The program will support participants’ positive social connections, build confidence and maintain overall wellbeing, while providing the community access to professional and quality arts experiences.

Quote from Executive Director of Varuna, the National Writers’ House, Veechi Stuart:

“We are excited by the vibrant work coming from Northern Territory writers, and delighted to participate in the fourth year of this innovative program, held in partnership with Arts NT.”

Quote from 2018 Varuna Fellowship recipient and author of Return to Dust, Danielle Powell:

“Words cannot capture the gratitude I felt for the gift of a room of my own at Varuna, as well as the solidarity and support of staff and fellow writers in residence. For this I thank the Eleanor Dark Foundation and the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT, who supported the time I spent in residence.”

Media Contact: Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture 0476 844 832