Guidelines and Application Form

With the support of the State Library of Victoria Foundation, the Library awards Creative Fellowships annually. Up to eight Creative Fellowships are offered for periods of three, six and 12 months. Stipends ranging from $12,500 for three months to $50,000 for 12 months apply.

Full-time and part-time Fellowships will be awarded. Preference will be given to applicants who do not have access to alternative sources of subsidy. Fellowships may be shared by joint applicants; however, the stipend will be the same as for a single applicant.

An Honorary Creative Fellowship may be awarded to a scholar and researcher who does not require financial assistance but would benefit from the other privileges of the Creative Fellowships.

Fellowship requirements

Successful applicants will be required to:

take up Fellowships in the 12-month period immediately following the award's announcement (July 2008 to June 2009)
make significant use of the resources of the State Library of Victoria
spend at least 75 per cent of their research time at the State Library of Victoria
give a public presentation of the results of their creative activity or research and, where appropriate, deposit a copy of their work in the State Library
give the State Library of Victoria the first opportunity to publish the results of the work undertaken, where appropriate or desirable.

Selection process

The Creative Fellowships are awarded on the advice of an independent committee of the Library Board of Victoria. The selection of recipients is based on written application only. The application must include the names of three referees.

Fellowships will not be awarded to postgraduate students before completion of examination requirements.

Information session

An information session is held each year - intending applicants are encouraged to attend to discuss their proposals before submitting them.

The Library's collections

The Library is Victoria's major reference and research library. Its collections, which reflect the cultural and social history of Victoria, are an incredibly rich resource for Creative Fellows.

Its special collections - Australian Manuscripts, Pictures, Children's Literature, Rare Books, Maps and Newspapers - are particularly important for researchers. Many rare and unusual artefacts of great historical significance are held in these collections, such as Ned Kelly's 'Jerilderie Letter' and suit of armour, John Batman's journal and a leaf of the Gutenberg Bible.

Application form

Applications for 2008 have now closed.

More information

Ms Gail Schmidt
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Phone 03 8664 7335
Email fellows@slv.vic.gov.au