‘Overland’ launches new residency for marginalised writers

Overland has announced a new residency program ‘aimed at addressing a lack of opportunities for marginalised writers’, with the inaugural program to focus on women writers who are the sole primary carers of one or more children.

Overland said in a statement that the 2016 Overland Writers Residency will be open to women who are juggling sole parenthood and their writing, and may be finding themselves ‘increasingly isolated and their creative careers marginalised under the pressure of their circumstances’. The residency aims to provide the successful applicant with the ‘space, time, creative support and financial assistance’ to focus on their writing.

The successful applicant will have ‘flexible use’ of a private office at Overland’s offices at Victoria University in Footscray, Melbourne; a $500 weekly stipend (totalling $6000); and a mentorship with Melbourne writer Alison Croggon, to be held fortnightly over three months with detailed feedback provided at the beginning and end of the residency.

Applications for the 2016 program will close on 29 May, with the recipient to be announced by 30 June.

The Overland Writers Residency is supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, and will continue in 2017 with a focus on Indigenous writers.

For more information about the residency, visit the Overland website here.

Category: Local news