The Red Room Poetry Fellowship was established to foster the poetic and professional development of contemporary Australian poets and to recognise their achievements and artistic goals. 2024 sees Red Room Poetry expand their fellowship program in partnership with Varuna the National Writers’ House, located in Katoomba on Dharug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains.
The Red Room Poetry Fellowship residency will take place from Monday 26 August to Monday 2 September 2024.
This opportunity 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 the national Poetry Month in August. All five poets will be in residence simultaneously, establishing a community of practice and encouraging new poetic connections.
Additionally, one extra place is provided for a sixth poet as part of the Anywhere Remote Residency. This new initiative has been designed by Red Room Poetry to broaden access for poets who face additional barriers that may make travelling to Varuna a challenge - more information below.
All poets previously commissioned or programmed by Red Room Poetry are eligible to apply. At least one of the five places is reserved for a First Nations poet, and at least one of the five places is reserved for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse poet.
For more information about previous recipients of the Red Room Poetry Fellowship, please click here.
The 2024 Fellows will receive:
$1000 Stipend each
A one-week residency at Varuna, with all meals and accommodation provided (Monday 26 August - Monday 2 September 2024)
A one-on-one on site mentoring consultation and group workshopping session
A public reading opportunity in 2024
Online publication of a poem as part of Poetry Month 2024 (additional fee for this)
Anywhere Remote Residency
One residency is offered to be undertaken remotely during the same week (Monday 26 August - Monday 2 September 2024). This Fellow will receive:
$1000 stipend
A one-on-one online mentoring consultation
An online reading opportunity in 2024
Online publication of a poem in 2024 (additional fee for this)
Selection criteria
Availability to attend a one-week residency at Varuna in 2024 (Monday 26 August - Monday 2 September 2024)
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 project description and work submitted show a high degree of originality and contribute to the wider culture of contemporary poetry in Australia
Ready to get started? Complete the online application form here.
If you would prefer to submit your application as a word .doc, please email us at access@redroompoetry.org with your completed form and support material. Download the form as a word document here.
Terms and Conditions
Applications are open exclusively to poets previously commissioned or programmed by Red Room Poetry. Poets must indicate the project(s) for which they were engaged.
Poets must be over 18 years of age to apply for this opportunity.
Multiple entries are not permitted.
Poems submitted must be original works written by an individual author.
Poems submitted must not infringe upon anyone’s copyright.
Poems that are deemed to be works of plagiarism will be disqualified.
Applications previously entered in past Red Room Poetry Fellowships may not be re-entered.
Audio poems (up to 3 minutes) can be submitted instead if the poet’s preferred medium.
There must be a degree of preparedness to record, publish and speak publicly about your poetry and creative process.
Entries open 9am, Tuesday 12 December 2023 and close 6pm, Wednesday 7 February 2024 (AEDT)
Feedback for unsuccessful entries will not be provided.
Copyright of all poem(s) remains with the poet.
Access for in-person residencies
More information about Accessibility at Varuna for the in-person residencies can be found via this page.
Questions about your application? Contact Red Room Poetry via fellowship@redroompoetry.org
