Red Room Poetry Fellowship 2025
Australian poets are invited to apply for a week-long residency at Varuna to foster poetic and professional development, supported by mentorship from Red Room Poetry, and with the opportunity for performance and publication.
Residency dates: Monday 25 August to Monday 1 September 2025
Applications open: 9am Tuesday 3 December 2024 (AEDT)
Applications close: 5pm Tuesday 4 February 2025 (AEDT)
Places: Five poets will be chosen to stay in person at Varuna, with one extra place for a sixth poet as part of the Anywhere Remote Fellowship.
Who should apply: Poets who have previously been programmed or commissioned by Red Room Poetry, and Emerging Poets who have had no more than one collection of poetry published.
Fees: There are no application fees or residency fees for this program. All meals and travel costs are covered and poets receive a $1000 stipend each.
FAQ: Please read the FAQ before you apply.
This fellowship encourages poets to undertake an intensive period of creative development that includes a residency at Varuna, dedicated one-on-one mentorship, and a poetic commission to be published as part of National Poetry Month in August. Five poets will be in residence at Varuna simultaneously, establishing a community of practice and encouraging new poetic connections.
A sixth poet will be awarded the Anywhere Remote Fellowship, offering online mentorship and support to a poet working from home. This initiative has been designed by Red Room Poetry to broaden access for poets who face barriers that may make travelling to Varuna a challenge.
All poets previously commissioned or programmed by Red Room Poetry are eligible to apply. At least one of the six places is reserved for a First Nations poet, and at least one place for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse poet, and at least one place for an Emerging Poet.
The Varuna Red Room Poetry fellowship includes;
$1000 stipend
A one-week residency at Varuna, with all meals and accommodation provided (Monday 25 August - Monday 1 September 2025)
A one-on-one mentoring consultation and group workshopping session on-site at Varuna
A public reading opportunity in 2025
Online publication of a poem as part of Poetry Month 2025 (an additional publication fee will be paid)
The Anywhere Remote Fellowship includes;
The opportunity to connect online for readings and networking with the other fellowship recipients between Monday 25 August - Monday 1 September 2025
A $1000 stipend
A one-on-one mentoring consultation online
An online reading opportunity in 2025
Online publication of a poem as part of Poetry Month 2025 (an additional publication fee will be paid
HOW TO APPLY
You will need to complete a short application form which will include a writing sample of up to 3 poems, saved as a single PDF, using the title of your manuscript or collection. Poets may instead submit an audio sample of their work up to 3 minutes long if that is their preferred medium. You will also be asked to provide a statement of intent describing your work and how you would use the residency.
Assessors will be looking at the two following categories:
Impact - Show potential for this grant to benefit your creative development and advance the proposed poetic project you intend to work on as part of the residency.
Project Merit - The submitted project description and work show a high degree of originality and contribute to Australia's wider culture of contemporary poetry.
If you prefer to submit your application as a Word document, please email us at access@redroompoetry.org with your completed form and support material. You can download the form as a Word document here.
THE FINE PRINT:
If you have further queries, please email Red Room Poetry or call 1800 POETRY