Lucy Sussex, State Library Victoria 2017 Creative Fellow. Source: State Library Victoria.
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With a total of $195,000 up for grabs, one of Australia’s most prestigious fellowship programs offers a wealth of opportunities for artists, writers and scholars alike.
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State Library Victoria has announced the 2025 Fellowships Program, inviting diverse participants — artists, performers, writers and academics — to engage with the State Collection and provide fresh perspectives on Victorian history and culture.
“The Fellowships Program has enabled Victorians to produce an incredible variety of books, performances, essays and artworks, all inspired by the State Collection,” State Library Victoria chief executive Paul Duldig said.
For those selected as library fellows, the benefits are plentiful.
Each fellow will receive dedicated funding, access to their own office within the stunning library dome, and the support of a specialist librarian to help navigate the rich treasures of the State Collection.
“With the support of our specialist librarians, our fellows have brought the collection to life in imaginative ways and enriched our understanding of who we are, where we’ve been and where we’re going,” Mr Duldig said.
The fellowship program is designed to be inclusive, encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to apply, regardless of experience.
“Fellowships are for everyone,” Mr Duldig said.
“We want to see applicants from all of Victoria’s diverse communities.”
Since its inception in 2003, the program has nurtured over 300 fellows, many of whom have gone on to produce transformative work in their fields.
For example, Lucy Sussex, a 2017 Creative Fellow, used her time to explore the life of Mary Fortune, Australia’s first female crime writer, resulting in the publication of Outrageous Fortunes.
“The library fellowship was invaluable in allowing me to dig deep into the research and piece together Mary Fortune’s fascinating life from hidden gems in the collection,” Dr Sussex said.
“I’m delighted to now be able to share Fortune’s stranger-than-fiction story with all readers.”
Other fellowship projects have spanned various topics, including geological and cultural research on coastal communities facing rising sea levels, a literary exploration of women transported as convicts and re-enacting a séance in celebration of Victorian-era fascination with the afterlife.
Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks expressed excitement about the discoveries that would be made this year.
“State Library Victoria’s incredible collection belongs to all Victorians, and the Fellowships Program is an opportunity to use this extraordinary treasure trove to fuel groundbreaking research and creative projects,” he said.
The 2025 Fellowships Program consists of multiple opportunities, including Creative Fellowships, Climate Futures Artist Fellowships and specialised residencies.
Applications for the 2025 Fellowships Program are open until 5pm on Friday, March 21.
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