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, Palerang, Greater Queanbeyan, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley,
Bombala, Cooma Monaro, and Snowy River);
2. be under the age of 35 at 30 November 2015; 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, non-fiction
writing, screen-writing and/or play-writing.
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 Friday 30 October 2015. 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 2015 this presentation will take place Early/MidNovember. 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 4 December
2015. 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 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 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 to be 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:
Total cost of your 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 benefits 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 benefits the ACT Writers Centre and its
literary community.
In no more than 200 words tell us about your background as a writer/poet/screenwriter/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 email this completed form to: admin@actwriters.org.au by COB on Friday 30
October 2015.