Residency dates
A standard residency will operate on a three -month basis however a longer residency can be negotiated. There are no set dates for the residency: applicants will be asked to nominate their preferred residency period which must conclude no later than May 2019.
Timelines
Applications Close Assessment notification Residency must conclude Moreland Writers Event
Application process
1 June 2018
18 June 2018 May 2019
To be confirmed
All applicants are encouraged to read these guidelines before applying. Applications are to be submitted online via Council’s webpage www.moreland.vic.gov.au/writer-in-residence
by 5pm Friday 1 June 2018.
Applicants are asked to:
- Outline the writing project they would like to work on during the residency and how their writing practice will benefit from the residency (1 page maximum)
- Propose the public outcomes or community focused activities they would be interested in undertaking as part of the residency (1 page maximum)
- Nominate the three month period in which they propose to undertake the residency, and the preferred location for the residency
- Provide up to three examples of previous work (this can be via uploaded documents or weblinks) (Up to 3000 words of prose or 10 poems or 20 pages of script)
- Provide a single page biography outlining their writing experience and CV
Assessment Process
Applications will be considered by a panel consisting of Unit Manager Arts and Culture, Libraries nominated person, member Moreland Arts Board, and up to two industry experts.
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Likely benefit of the residency for the applicant’s professional development
- Artistic merit of a) supporting material and b) proposed project
- Achievability of the residency (ability to clearly demonstrate the planning, development and delivery of the project).
Up to three residencies will be offered on the strength and merit of each application. Consideration will be given to ensuring a diverse group of writers is selected.
Further information
If you need more information or would like to discuss your ideas or application please contact Will Coogan, Unit Manager Arts and Culture on 9240 2371 or wcoogan@moreland.vic.gov.au
Moreland Writers in Residence Program is an initiative of Moreland City Council This initiative is proudly supported by Scribe Publications, Brunswick.
Moreland’s Writers in Residence program provides a unique opportunity for three writers to develop their practice in one of Australia’s most thriving arts communities.
This is the first time Council has undertaken this initiative, which was developed as part of Creative Capital – Moreland’s Arts and Culture Strategy – in recognition of the vital role writers play to the creative sector of Moreland. The Writers in Residence Program is considered by Council as an important opportunity to support Moreland’s local writers and promote their work.
The aim of the program is to support writers with resources and space to strengthen their professional practice. As such, proposals can be for any stage of a writing project, however, it is preferable that the residency would give the successful writers time to focus on a specific area of development for their writing project or career development.
Who can apply?
The Moreland Writer in Residence program is open to all writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama. All types and genres of storytelling will be considered, including children’s literature, script and screenwriting for stage, radio, television and film, and podcasts. The program is however closed to full time academics.
What is provided by Council?
Up to three successful applicants will be provided with access to a studio space for a period of three months (within a period from July 2018- May 2019) and an honorarium of $3,000.
Moreland can offer residencies across multiple venues including:
- Coburg or Brunswick Libraries
- Coburg Courthouse
- Siteworks at 33 Saxon Street
- Train stations along Upfield Train Line – as part of MoreArt
- Moreland may also be able to facilitate residences in other spaces across the municipality as proposed by writers.
Access and available resources for each location are described in the terms and conditions below and can be discussed and negotiated in detail prior to formal agreement.
Other support successful applicants will be offered may include:
- Opportunities to be engaged as part of the Arts and Culture or library programs such as Making it in Moreland or Read More
- Publicity published across Council digital platforms
- Networking opportunities with the local arts community including local publishers
What is required of the successful applicants?
Successful applicants are required to attend the residency for a minimum of 10 hours per week.
Council also requires all successful applicants to deliver a public outcome during their residency. The public outcome is nominated by the successful applicant and forms part of the residency proposal. There is no fixed expectation for the public outcome, however some suggestions include:
- an author talk or a reading at Moreland Libraries, or a Council-delivered cultural event
- delivery of a masterclass, community workshop or tutorial of some kind
- participation as a judge in Moreland Libraries’ annual story writing competition
contribution to existing Council programming such as festival programs, Read More, Making it in Moreland, MoreArt etc.
In addition to the public outcome, all successful applicants will be asked to read an excerpt of their work at a writers’ event hosted by Moreland in April 2019.