Neilma Sidney Travel Fund recipients announced

Writers Victoria has announced the ninth round of recipients for the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund.

The successful recipients, who share in a total of $58,675, are:

• Aimee Chan (NSW), to tour literary exhibition, Juvenilia, to South Australia to reach a new audience of readers, educators and librarians
• Jack Kirne (VIC), for travel to Sardinia, Italy for a writer’s residency as well as to complete revisions of an unpublished novel manuscript
• Amy McQuire and Matt Chun (NSW), for travel to Tanna, Vanuatu for research, co-writing and artmaking for collaborative picture book project on the enslavement of Pacific Islanders in colonial Australia, aka ‘Blackbirding’
• Lorna Munro (NSW), to travel to and participate in Palestine Writes
• Brian Obiri-Asare (NSW), for travel to Ghana to undertake a residency and to engage in the study of West African theatrical form to further develop play-in-progress, Speak of the Devil
• Stefan Sabatini (VIC), for travel to Ireland for research into a novel set in contemporary Dublin
• Karen Wyld (SA), for travel to Western Australia to research archives and exhibitions, experience immersive site visits and a self-hosted writer’s retreat, as well as travel to Philadelphia, USA to attend Palestine Writes and participate in mentoring with Palestinian novelist Susan Abulhawa.

Judges Roz Bellamy, Robin Eames and Muhib Nabulsi were impressed with the quality of the applications for the round, which attracted a record-breaking 229 applications.

Established in 2017, the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund provides access to professional development for emerging, mid-career and established Australian writers and literary sector workers.

For more information see the Writers Victoria website.

Category: Awards Local news