State Library of Victoria fellowship program is now open

Applications are now open for the State Library of Victoria’s 2019 Fellowships program.

Each year, the Library offers creative and specialist fellowships to encourage the original and imaginative use or development of the Library’s collections for new work.

The Library also provides a number of specialist fellowships to support and recognise the importance of scholarly endeavour in areas ranging from children’s literature and social history to the visual arts, theatre, 19th-century Victoria, Indigenous cultural research and digital technology.

Fellows receive a grant of $15,000 for three months’ research, a shared office space, and special access to collections and library experts. This year’s fellowships program will deliver a total of 16 fellowships, collectively worth $210,000.

From the State Library of Victoria Media release:

State Library Victoria CEO, Kate Torney, said the Library, together with the support of its partners, is proud to invest in the creative community through one of Australia’s largest fellowships programs.

“For the past 17 years, more than $2.5 million has been invested in fellows, giving them the opportunity to discover the endless potential of State Library Victoria’s collection. I am excited to find out what imaginative new work emerges from this year’s program.

“I invite creators working in any form – whether it’s visual arts, new media, dance, musical performance or composition – to apply for a fellowship and to be inspired by the Library’s vast collection,” said Ms Torney.

Past fellowships have produced major exhibitions, public art installations, documentaries, books, graphic novels, plays, musical scores, interactive games, web applications and many other creative projects.

Three new fellowships will be offered in 2019: the Photography Fellowship, the Regional Fellowship and the Tate Adams Memorial Residency.

The fellowships are funded by the State Library Victoria Foundation and other program partners and are awarded annually on the advice of independent expert panels.

Applications close midnight Sunday 28 April 2019.

For more information on how to apply and the list of fellowships available see the State Library Victoria website.

The very best of luck to all applying for these excellent fellowships.