New Zealand’s Leading Literary Fellowship Opens Doors

Applications for the 2019 Grimshaw Sargeson Fellowship are now open.

Now in its 32nd year, the Fellowship is a national literary award offering published New Zealand writers, based both locally and internationally, the opportunity to focus on their craft full-time by providing an annual stipend of $20,000 and tenure at the Sargeson Centre in Auckland.

Playwright Carl Bland and writer David Howard were the recipients of last year’s Fellowship, with Carl taking the first half of the tenure and David just starting his placement in Auckland.

“What a gift to be given the opportunity to work unhindered by the usual distractions and financial worries. My new play Mr Red Light has made the leap from being a working draft to be production ready. It will premiere at The Herald Theatre in Auckland next year,” says Carl Bland, who has spent his time crafting a play about a hostage situation in a pie shop.

“Truly, there is a never a dull moment when you walk around the Auckland CBD, then question the dead,” says David Howard, who has been using his Fellowship to delve into the unknown by writing a play that centres on a séance: “Since I arrived at the Sargeson Centre two weeks ago, every day has brought haunting discoveries.”

“We’re proud to give deserving authors and creatives the opportunity to fully dedicate themselves to their work, which allows them to delve deeper and explore ideas they might not otherwise be able to,” says Frank Sargeson Trust Chair Elizabeth Aitken-Rose.

“The aim of this Fellowship is to enrich and nurture New Zealand’s literary landscape. It’s always exciting to see the work that our recipients have used their time to develop, and we look forward to getting a taste of the new ideas put forward by this year’s talent.”

Aitken-Rose also says that it is fantastic to see the range of authors that apply for the Fellowship across all genres and encourages all established writers to consider applying, whether they are poets, biographers, or novelists.

“The contribution that they make to New Zealand’s culture is invaluable,” says Paul Grimshaw, Partner of Grimshaw & Co, “that’s why we continue to support New Zealand’s literary talent.”

Applications close on Friday 5 October 2018, with the tenure due to start on 1 April 2019. Download the application form here.

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