Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship 2015
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Creative New Zealand is calling for applications from established New Zealand writers for the Creative New
Zealand Michael King Writers’ Fellowship, valued at $100,000. The Fellowship was offered for the first time in
2003, and was renamed in recognition of the late Dr Michael King for his contribution to literature and his role
in advocating for a major fellowship for New Zealand writers.
Previous recipients of the fellowship are Owen Marshall, Vincent O’Sullivan, C.K. Stead, Rachel Barrowman,
Neville Peat, Dame Fiona Kidman, Philip Simpson, Kate De Goldi, Peter Wells, Dr Peter Simpson, Fiona Farrell
and Elizabeth Knox.
The fellowship will be awarded for a significant project that will take two years or more to complete and is
open to established authors of any literary genre who have already published a significant body of work.
Creative New Zealand’s literary genre priorities include autobiography/memoir, biography, children’s fiction,
creative non-fiction, essays, fiction, graphic novels with a strong literary element, histories, literary criticism,
narrative non-fiction and poetry.
Criteria
Applicants for this fellowship will have achieved one or more of the following:
 Established a strong reputation as a writer, i.e. published significant works of literature that have been
critically acclaimed
 Been short-listed for one or more literary awards
 Received a significant literary award or fellowship
Application requirements
You do not need to fill out an application form for the fellowship but should include the following information
in your application:
1. A covering letter with your postal address, telephone number(s) and email address.
2. Details of the project underway or to be undertaken, demonstrating why it will take two years or more
to complete. If there is a significant research component to the project please include details on the
research approach and resources required. (Please note that you are not required to submit a sample
of the work-in-progress, however if you have started work on the proposed project you may submit up
to ten pages. You may also submit copies of previously published books that can help establish your
track record.)
3. Details on how you will carry out the project, including where and when and any special requirements
for the project such as travel and research.
4. A full literary CV detailing any awards, residencies and fellowships.
5. Details on how your project will deliver to the following result that Creative New Zealand is seeking:
‘High quality New Zealand art is developed’.
6. An outline of future plans for the completed project (such as an expression of interest from a
publisher).
7. Up to two letters of support. Support letters may be from your publisher or respected members of the
literary community and should refer to the project you are proposing in your application.
Please note that all applications are subject to Creative New Zealand’s general eligibility criteria:
 You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident;
 You must have a track record of experience and success;
 Your project must directly benefit New Zealand arts.
Also, Creative New Zealand cannot support:
 Employees of tertiary or other education institutions, if the arts activity for which you are seeking
funding is part of your job (your application will need to include a written statement from your Head
of Department, or equivalent position, confirming that the activity is not part of your job);
 Individuals who have sent in a late report (after receiving a second reminder) within six months before
the closing date for applications;
 Individuals who are in breach of the conditions of a current funding agreement with Creative New
Zealand;
 New Zealand artists based overseas, unless you can show that the proposal will have direct benefits
for New Zealand artists or arts organisations;
 Creative New Zealand staff or members of our governance structure such as councils, boards or
committees (we also cannot consider letters of support for your application from these individuals).
 Projects that are already supported through other government agencies such as Radio New Zealand,
the NZ Film Commission, the NZ Music Commission, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the New
Zealand Lottery Grants Board, NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho or Te Matatini;
 Projects which are developing or producing content for TV or radio.
Submitting your application
Please send in six copies of your application by post or courier to arrive no later than 5pm on Friday
6 March 2015 to:
POST
COURIER
AUCKLAND
Michael King Writers’ Fellowship 2015
Creative New Zealand
PO Box 1425
Auckland 1140
WELLINGTON
Michael King Writers’ Fellowship 2015
Creative New Zealand
PO Box 3806
Wellington 6140
Michael King Writers’ Fellowship 2015
Creative New Zealand
Level 3, Southern Cross Building
59-67 High Street
Auckland 1010
Michael King Writers’ Fellowship 2015
Creative New Zealand
Level 10, Aorangi House
85 Molesworth Street
Wellington 6011
For further information, contact:
Jill Rawnsley, Senior Arts Adviser (Literature) PH: 09 373 3077 E: jill.rawnsley@creativenz.govt.nz
Applications close at 5pm on Friday 6 March 2015
All applicants will be informed of the results of the selection process in June 2015.