Announcing 12 new fellowships for writers with disability
As part of Arts Restart funding from the NSW Government, Varuna has teamed up with Accessible Arts – NSW’s peak arts and disability organisation – to deliver a new fellowship program for NSW writers who may have previously experienced barriers to developing their skills.
The Writer’s Space Fellowships offer a two-week program of creative development to 12 writers with disability or who are D/deaf. Six writers will stay in residency at Varuna the National Writers’ House in Katoomba and another six writers will participate in an online residency. Applicants will be able to select their preference. The residency will include two special small group Q and A sessions, one with writer, speaker and disability activist Carly Findlay OAM, the other with best-selling writer Tara Moss. As part of the fellowship package, writers will also receive funds to support mentorships and professional development activities in the lead up to their residencies.
Rebecca Goosen, Strategic Initiatives and Development Officer at Varuna, said, “2020 offered an opportunity to explore new ways of delivering our programs. We’ve had so much success creating online writing communities, working with writers who otherwise might have been prevented from joining us in person.”
“This is the first time Varuna is offering a program of in-person and online residencies in parallel, enabling 12 writers to network during their residency rather than six. Vitally, it also means that writers with disability or who are D/deaf will be able to choose the mode of attendance, giving writers the flexibility they need. We have been working closely with Accessible Arts to ensure we create a truly accessible program.”
Liz Martin, Arts Development & Training Manager at Accessible Arts said, “Many arts practitioners with disability don’t get equitable access to a range of creative and career opportunities, so we’re thrilled to be working with Varuna on this initiative. It’s great that NSW writers with disability will get to work with a prestigious national organisation such as Varuna to develop their craft and expand their professional networks.”
If you identify as a writer with disability, or as a writer who is D/deaf, Varuna encourages you to apply for a fellowship. For me information go here .