Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency

Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency

Applications for the three month 2016 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency at the University of Hawai‘i are now invited.

The residency is available to mid-career or senior New Zealand writers of Pacific heritage to work on a project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history.

The project may be in any genre, but priority is given to works that focus on developing New Zealand literature in the genres of fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction (including biography, history, arts-related and cultural topics) and playwriting.

The residency is valued at NZ$30,000 and includes return airfares to Hawai‘i, accommodation costs and a monthly stipend. Previous recipients have included authors Sarona Aiono-Iosefa and Marisa Maepu; poets Tusiata Avia, Leilani Tamu and Daren Kamali; filmmakers Sima Urale and Toa Fraser; and playwright Victor Rodger. Hawai‘i has been identified as a strategic location for artists and is considered the hub of Pacific writing with numerous universities, library resources, networks, writers’ forums and publishers. It is also an important link to the mainland US and has a strong indigenous culture.

The most recent writer-in-residence, Wellington poet Karlo Mila, says the residency was a productive time for her, writing a book of poetry and drafting her first novel.

“As a Pasifika artist, the opportunity to work in Hawaii was a dream come true. It is thriving with Pasifika and indigenous scholars and creatives - and simply being there expanded my own universe to incorporate so much more. Hawaii itself is magical. My novel grew - almost of its own accord - the poetry almost seemed to write itself - because the environment and the people were so conducive to creativity. I cannot recommend the experience enough.”

The 2016 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency is available in either the Fall (August to November) or Spring (February to May) semester of the 2016-2017 US academic year. The deadline for applications is 5:00pm, 1 March 2016. Applications are made online via the Fulbright New Zealand website.

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