State Library expands fellowships program with regional and Indigenous focus

Applications are now open for State Library Victoria’s fellowships program, which invites Australians to draw on the Library’s extraordinary collection to create new works in any form – including literature, research, art, theatre, photography and printmaking.

One of the largest fellowships of its kind in Australia, the 2022 program will offer 16 fellowships worth a total of $215,000. It will include two new fellowships for regional Victorians, as well as an additional fellowship for Indigenous Victorians.

The inaugural Regional Creative Fellowships will be awarded to two regional Victorians who respond to published or original source material from the Library's collection. These, along with the two Marion Orme Page Regional Fellowships in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria, will help extend the Library’s engagement with scholars and creatives outside metropolitan Melbourne.

The Indigenous fellowships will double in 2022, with two Indigenous Victorian Aboriginal Cultural Research Fellowships to be awarded to Indigenous Victorians who identify significant collection items for use in research that will be of value to the community.

Fellows will receive a cash grant for three months’ research, a shared office space at the Library and special access to Library experts.

Full list of 2022 State Library Victoria Fellowships:

• Creative Fellowships, $15,000 (x2)
• Children’s Literature Fellowship, $15,000
• Indigenous Victorian Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Research Fellowship, $15,000
• Indigenous Victorian Aboriginal Family History Fellowship, $15,000
• Regional Creative Fellowships, $15,000 (x2)
• Amor Residency at Baldessin Press & Studio Printmaking Fellowship, $5,000
• Berry Family Fellowship for Social History, $15,000
• Georges Mora Fellowship for Contemporary Art, $10,000
• La Trobe Society Fellowship for Colonial History, $15,000
• Redmond Barry Fellowship, supported by the University of Melbourne, $15,000
• Marion Orme Page Regional Fellowship in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria, $15,000 (x2)
• Russell Beedles Performing Arts Fellowship, $15,000
• Tate Adams Memorial Residency at Baldessin Press & Studio, $5,000

State Library Victoria CEO, Kate Torney said the Library, with the support of its partners, is excited to offer an expanded fellowships program in 2022.

“For nearly 20 years, the fellowships program has invested in some of Australia’s most talented scholars, researchers, artists, performers and writers to help them create valuable new works.

“We’re proud to offer three new fellowships this year, providing much-needed investment in our regional and Indigenous communities.

“We invite all scholars and creators in all forms to apply for a fellowship and draw on the Library’s limitless potential,” said Ms Torney.

State Library Victoria 2019 Creative Fellow, poet Dr Grace Yee said her fellowship provided invaluable support to her poetry collection, The Chinese Question.

“It has been a joy to work at State Library Victoria. The collections are impressive and the staff knowledgeable and helpful.

“I was thrilled to discover several unique items, including a diary written by a 19th Century goldminer, an unpublished memoir and oral histories recorded in the early 1980s.

“My time as a Fellow has been rewarding and productive, with the project yielding several publications across Australia and internationally,” said Dr Yee.

Minister for Creative Industries, The Hon. Danny Pearson MP said the fellowships program will support the recovery of the creative sector and open up State Library Victoria’s vast collections to the wider community.

“We are proud to support the fellowships program – especially with the new categories that recognise our regional and Indigenous Victorians.

“Our State Library is an incredible community and creative resource, with a collection that spans almost every topic you can imagine, from medieval literature to Australia’s first newspapers.

“As our creative sector bounces back, these fellowships will give creatives the chance to use the library's collections and resources to develop the skills and knowledge to take the next steps in their careers,” said Minister Pearson.

Recipients of the 2022 fellowships will be announced on Thursday 11 November.