Victoria University of Wellington announces Emerging Māori Writer’s Residency

To mark Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Victoria University of Wellington’s International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is delighted to announce the inaugural Emerging Māori Writer’s Residency for 2020.

The Residency, supported by Creative New Zealand, runs for three months and includes a writing room, a mentor, and a stipend of $15,000. Projects may be written in English or te reo Māori, and the residency is open to writers across all genres. It runs during the second half of 2020.

 “We are looking forward to seeing applications from exciting new voices in all areas of literary activity, whether in English or te reo Māori,” says Senior Lecturer Chris Price. “We can see Māori writers forging new paths, and this residency offers support at a crucial stage in their writing careers.”

 Residents may apply as individuals or as small groups or collectives. The Residency includes mentorship from a member of the Māori arts community, who will be appointed in consultation with the Resident.

 “Tangata whenua writers are a critical voice for Aotearoa New Zealand society and there are so many great Māori stories to be told. This residency is an exciting opportunity for us to support an emerging voice,” says Dr Ocean Mercier, Head of Te Kawa a Māui, the School of Māori Studies.

 Esteemed Māori writer Witi Ihimaera says, “I like that the residency will allow a new writer enough time to make substantial process and benefit from the mentorship. My own experience of Te Auaha, the creative way, is that this is the time for them to get over the start line and, with good practical skills behind them, begin a career.”

This is the second new Emerging Writer’s Residency to be established at the University in the past 18 months. It joins the Emerging Pasifika Writer’s Residency, which is continuing, and which is also currently seeking applicants for 2020.

 The IIML welcomes applications from writers at an early stage of their careers, with a growing body of work. Applications for both residencies are invited from writers in all areas of literary activity, including drama, fiction and poetry (page and performance), devised performance, creative non-fiction and graphic novels.

Applications close 25 November 2019. Apply here. 

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