Media Release

Applications open for State Library Fellowships

The prestigious State Library of Victoria Creative Fellowships are once again on offer to Australian writers, academics, artists, composers and researchers.

Funded by the State Library of Victoria Foundation and awarded annually by the State Library on the advice of an independent committee of the Library Board of Victoria, the $100,000 Creative Fellowship program encourages the scholarly, literary and creative use of the Library's rich collections. This is the fifth year the State Library of Victoria has offered the Creative Fellowships.

The Fellowships are for periods of three or six months, with stipends of $12,500 for three months and $25,000 for six months respectively. Research projects can be in any area of the Library's collections, and are open to Australian residents who may be scholars, creative writers, artists, composers, or developers of new media across a broad range of disciplines.

'The Fellowships represent the State Library of Victoria's strong commitment to original scholarship, writing and creative endeavour and will help position the Library as a centre for ideas and public debate,' said Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, Chief Executive Officer and State Librarian. 'The chosen Fellows will be working in the Library using our unique collections, sharing their ideas with the public, and producing publications or works based on these collections,' Ms Schwirtlich said.

'We are extremely grateful for the State Government's generous support in helping us to establish the Creative Fellowships.' Ms Schwirtlich said.

The inaugural La Trobe Society Fellowship for research into the colonial period of Victoria's history during Charles Joseph La Trobe's administration (1839-1854) as Superintendent and Lieutenant-Governor will be offered for six months, with a stipend of $25,000.

In 2007, a new award, the Georges Mora Fellowship, will be offered for the first time. This six months fellowship has been created to support practising Australian artists and attracts a stipend of $20,000 maximum for the Fellow.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a general information evening to discuss proposals before they are submitted.  This will be held on Monday, 26 February 2007 from 6.00pm in the State Library's Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, La Trobe Street, Melbourne.

Applications close Friday 30 March 2007 and forms can be accessed online.

Fellowship recipients will be announced in July.