Creative Fellowships

group shot of library fellows standing on a stage

This year the Library is offering two $15,000 Creative Fellowships, to provide artists and scholars with a unique and supportive environment in which to explore our collections. We invite recipients to be inspired by, repurpose, transform or imaginatively respond to published or original sources, including manuscripts, maps, music, newspapers, oral histories and rare printed material, in any way they choose.

Applications are welcome from individuals or collaborative partnerships practising in any art form – visual arts, new media, dance, musical performance or composition – and from writers and scholars in any discipline or subject.

Fellows receive a grant of $15,000, access to a desk space in a shared office for 12 months (January–December 2023), access to collections and staff expertise.

Read our frequently asked questions and guidelines for more information.

Previous recipients

Explore our fellows gallery to learn more about the inspiring projects undertaken by past and present fellows.

2022: Dr Sofi Basseghi with the project The road to Pairidaeza, an examination of Persian literature, miniature paintings and manuscripts in the Library's collection.
2022: Veisinia Tonga with the project The darkness which will examine the accounts of Tongan contact with missionaries to illuminate pre-contact life in Tonga.
View previous Creative Fellows 2003-2019.