Home > Fellowships > Fellowships 2024

Give your ideas a flying start with a Library Fellowship. 

Amazing things happen when you bring your ideas to the Library and use the State Collection to imagine new possibilities.   

Whether you’re an artist, writer, storyteller, educator, researcher or creative, a fellowship can help your ideas soar.

As a Library fellow, you can delve into the collection, explore the Library as a unique place for creation and do something incredible with what you find here.   

The collection spans more than 5 million items, including books, manuscripts, maps, music, artwork, newspapers and objects. Immerse yourself, unearth hidden gems and create bold and imaginative work that expands our collective understanding of the nature of libraries. The possibilities are endless.    

Fellowships are for everyone – you don’t need any particular experience or credentials. We provide funding, a desk at the Library and a dedicated librarian to help you find what you need. Have a look at some previous fellowship projects.  

Explore our collections or take a look at previous fellowship projects

Make sure you read our frequently asked questions before applying. 

Diversity and inclusion 

We encourage applications from people who are: 

  • Indigenous Aboriginal or First Nations 

  • culturally and linguistically diverse 

  • d/Deaf 

  • disabled 

  • LGBTQI+ 

  • or members of a marginalised community.  

We’re working with Arts Access Victoria to make sure the fellowships are as accessible as possible. We can offer extra funding to support your access needs and we will work with you to make reasonable adjustments where possible.

Arts Access Victoria can only offer help to d/Deaf and Disabled applicants.

Find out more about accessibility or contact us to talk about your needs:

Arts Access Victoria 

Arts Access Victoria can provide access support with your application. This could be reviewing your draft proposal, helping you compile support material or helping you complete the form. For information about access support, contact Sarah Fiddaman: 

For more information, visit the Arts Access Victoria website. 

2024 Fellowships Program

Watch an Auslan video about State Library Victoria's Fellowships Program. Find out:

  • which fellowships are on offer for 2024
  • what funding and support fellows receive
  • how to apply.

An accessible version of the fellowships webpages will soon be available to download upon request.

Our fellowships

Working out of offices in the Library’s magnificent dome annulus, the 2024 fellows will reimagine our collections through photography, musical performance, video animation, sculpture and more – enriching Victorians’ understanding of who we are, where we’ve been and where we’re going.

How to apply

Applications for 2024–25 close at 5pm on Tuesday 26 March 2024. Apply by following the link to the SmartyGrants application form.

Key dates

Applications open: Monday 13 February 2024

Online information session with Arts Access Victoria: Tuesday 20 February 2024, 3–4.30pm

In-person information session: Wednesday 21 February 2024, 6–7.30pm, State Library Victoria Theatrette 

Applications close: Tuesday 26 March 2024 at 5pm

Notifications: Late May to early June 2024

Information sessions

We are hosting two information sessions about the 2024–25 Fellowships Program round. 

Online info session with Arts Access Victoria:

Tuesday 20 February 2024, 3–4.30pm
View the online info session here

In-person info session:

State Library Victoria Theatrette
Wednesday 21 February 2024, 6–7.30pm
View the in-person info session here

These sessions will be Auslan-interpreted and recorded with closed captions. The in-person info session will be livestreamed. 

Support

If you still have questions after attending an info session, contact: [email protected], call 03 8664 7000, or read our frequently asked questions.

National Relay Service

Contact us through the National Relay Service:

  • for accessibility inquiries, ask for 8664 7005 to speak to the Access and Inclusion Librarian
  • for all other inquiries, ask for 8664 7002

For more information, visit the National Relay Service website.