Arts NT Residential Fellowships
Three two-week fellowships are available for writers living in the Northern Territory, with a travel stipend and one-on-one mentoring, as part of the Varuna Residential Fellowships.
Applications open: 17 March 2026
Applications close: midnight AEST 15 May 2026
Residency dates: Between July 2026 - September 2027, arranged directly with Varuna based on availability
Places: Three places will be selected as part of the Varuna Residential Fellowships program.
Who should apply: Emerging or established writers living in the Northern Territory
FAQs: Please read the FAQs before you apply.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
Presented in partnership with the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT, three residential fellowships are available to writers living in the Northern Territory, to be taken between January - August 2027. Participants will be selected from across the Territory, and at least one fellowship place will be reserved for a First Nations writer or illustrator.
This is a flagship fellowship as part of the Varuna Residential Fellowships.
Residential fellowships include:
A two-week residency at Varuna, with full board and accommodation including a prepared evening meal.
Uninterrupted time to write in your own private studio, and the companionship of your fellow writers.
A one-hour mentor conversation with a Varuna consultant
$1,500 towards expenses, including travel, manuscript consultations, or accommodation in Sydney on the way through to the Blue Mountains. Each writer is able to use this expenses budget to fit their individual needs.
For more information about staying at Varuna, visit our Residencies page.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Artistic merit is the most important criterion for our assessors, who, depending on genre, are looking for sound structure, compelling themes, a distinctive and engaging voice, vivid imagery, strongly written characters, social and cultural relevance, and/or the work’s capacity to connect with readers.
Our assessors also consider the potential of your manuscript, based on the experience of the writer and their work plan.
HOW TO APPLY
The Arts NT Residential Fellowships are awarded to three writers living in the Northern Territory who applies for a Varuna Residential Fellowship. There is no separate application process.
Please refer to Varuna’s general submission guidelines for any questions on formatting your work.
TESTIMONIALS
Listen to what Dani Powell has to say about her experience as a Arts NT Varuna Fellowship recipient:
“I’d encourage Aboriginal language speakers to experience Varuna. It’s a place to write, think and be inspired. The staff are friendly and make sure your stay is 100% perfect, calm and happy. The Arts NT program gave me the opportunity to express my poems. Thank you. Apmere Mwarre, Ayeye Intelityeke. A good place to write your story.”
“It is the supportive environment, which is created through a deep sense of respect for the practice of writing, reflected by the provision of writers’ needs - being fed, kept warm, not pressured to do anything but tend to the work. No interruptions or demands. And having other writers there, and access to that wonderful library of Australian authors, is part of this support. To feel oneself in the company of writers (both in real life and in literature), immersed in the art form, gives validity and weight to the pursuit of writing.”
UPCOMING COURSES, FELLOWSHIPS AND EVENTS
