Key dates for the 2020 Award
Open call for entries – Monday, 18 January 2021
Close of entries – Saturday, 13 March 2021, 5pm (AEST) (Books must be postmarked no later than 13 March 2021)
Winner announcement – Wednesday, 14 April 2021
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Information and enquiries
Emma Caskey
Associate, Australian Poetry
Telephone: 03 9094 7829
Email: associate@australianpoetry.org
Anne Elder was a dancer with the Borovansky Ballet in the 1940s who later in life became a fine poet. Her poetry attracted praise from many critics for its vigour, depth of reference and distinctive artistry. A biography and book of selected poems has been published to mark the centenary of Elder’s birth and can be ordered from the publisher, Lauranton Press, through buckrich@bigpond.net.au or from Readings bookshops.
The award is named after Australian poet, Anne Elder (1918-1976). Sponsored by the Australian Communities Foundation, this prestigious, national, annual award is for a sole-authored first book of poetry of 20-minimum pages in length, published in Australia.
Established in 1977, the prize has offered important recognition to poets at a critical point in their writing lives, and its alumni represent some of Australia’s best-known and highly respected poets. The winner is awarded $1,000, and there is also the opportunity for the judging panel, which for the 2020 Award will comprise three judges (details to be announced in 2021), to award other books a commendation or special mention.
Books published between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 are eligible for entry into the 2020 Anne Elder Award.
Submission Guidelines & Eligibility
- Open to Australian residents only
- Entries must be in English. Bilingual volumes are acceptable as long as one of the languages in which the poems are written/translated is English
- Book should be a sole-authored first collection of poetry published in 2020
- Book must be 20+ pages in length and have been legally deposited with the National Library of Australia
- A book can only be considered a first volume if the author has not had previous volumes of poetry of 20+ pages published either in Australia or elsewhere
- Chapbooks are also eligible if they meet the above guidelines—please note, if a poet has entered a chapbook previously, they cannot re-submit a longer collection
- Entrants who have previously published in another genre are eligible as long as the entry submitted for this award is the first volume of poetry published by the author
- Co-authored entries are not eligible for the award
- Entry fee $25 (including GST) is payable at the time of entry. Payment is invited by cheque or email via associate@australianpoetry.org to be invoiced via EFT or PayPal payment
- Please email associate@australianpoetry.org after you have mailed your copies to say you have entered.
- First prize $1,000 plus certificate. Winners and commended entrants will receive a copy of Selected Poems of Anne Elder (Lauranton Press)
- The judges reserve the right not to award a prize
- The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
- Send 3 copies of the book to: Anne Elder Award Nominations, c/o Australian Poetry, 176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne Vic 3000.
You can also read a review of A Life of Anne Elder (2018) and The Bright and the Cold: Selected Poems (2018) by Michelle Concetta Borzi, as part of the Australian Women’s Book Review, Hecate Journal. You can view the PDF here: https://hecate.communications-arts.uq.edu.au/australian-womens-book-review-listing
Anne Elder was a dancer with the Borovansky Ballet in the 1940s who later in life became a fine poet. Her poetry attracted praise from many critics for its vigour, depth of reference and distinctive artistry. A biography and book of selected poems has been published to mark the centenary of Elder’s birth and can be ordered from the publisher, Lauranton Press, through buckrich@bigpond.net.au or from Readings bookshops.