The Poetry Company Fellowship 2027
Australian poets are invited to apply for a week-long fellowship to foster poetic and professional development, including mentorship and publication opportunities with The Poetry Company as part of Poetry Month.
Applications open: Tuesday 1 December 2027
Applications close: 5pm AEDT Tuesday 2 February 2027
Residency dates: Monday 23 August to Monday 30 August 2027
Places: Five poets will be chosen to stay in person at Varuna, with one extra place for a sixth poet as part of the Anywhere Remote Fellowship.
Who should apply: Poets who have previously been programmed or commissioned by The Poetry Company, and emerging poets who have had no more than one collection of poetry published.
Fees: There are no application fees or residency fees for this program. All poets receive a $1000 stipend each and in 2027, The Poetry Company will have a limited travel pool available to support successful Fellows who need additional support to get to Varuna.
FAQ: Please read the FAQs before you apply.
In partnership with The Poetry Company, this Fellowship recognises the achievements and artistic goals of contemporary Australian poets, supporting six poets to deeply engage with and develop their practice.
This opportunity encourages poets to undertake an intensive period of creative development including a residency at Varuna or remotely, mentorship, as well as a poetic commission to be published as part of Poetry Month in August. All six poets will be in residence simultaneously, establishing a community of practice, and encouraging new poetic connections.
The six 2027 Fellows will receive:
$1000 stipend
A one-week fellowship opportunity (Monday 23 August - Monday 30 August 2027), offered in two formats:
On-site Varuna Residency (five offered): Includes all meals and accommodation. Travel to and from Varuna must be arranged and paid for by the Fellows.
Anywhere Remote Fellowship (one offered): A self-directed remote fellowship undertaken from the Fellow’s own location (meals and accommodation are not provided).
A one-on-one mentoring consultation
Online publication of one poem for Poetry Month 2027 (additional artist fee)
In 2027, The Poetry Company will have a limited travel pool available to support successful Fellows who need additional support (beyond the $1000 stipend) to get to Varuna.
At least one of the six places is reserved for a First Nations poet, at least one for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse poet, and two for Emerging Poets. The Anywhere Remote Fellowship is designed to broaden access for poets who face additional barriers that may make travelling to Varuna a challenge.
Please refer to The Poetry Company’s Terms and Conditions and FAQs before applying.
For more information about staying at Varuna, visit our Residencies page.
HOW TO APPLY
You will need to complete a short application form which will include:
Project description (1-2 sentences, 500 characters)
Details of previous projects or events you have been commissioned or programmed for in a paid capacity by The Poetry Company (except for applicants to the Emerging Poets or Anywhere Remote Fellowships)
Impact statement: How will this opportunity benefit your creative development, and what are your goals for your Fellowship week? (1000 characters)
Three recent poems (max 3 pages) or audio poems (max 3 minutes). Please note, poems must be previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
Hi-res artist headshot and 50-word biography: To be used on our digital channels only if you are selected as a Fellow.
For Anywhere Remote Fellowship applicants: Outline how a remote Fellowship would benefit your practice.
Assessors will be looking at the following categories:
Impact: Potential for this Fellowship to support your creative development and advance your proposed poetic project, and demonstrated readiness to make the most of the opportunity.
Project Merit: The creative concepts, processes and poems submitted show a high degree of originality and contribute to the wider culture of contemporary poetry in Australia.
Work Sample: A publication opportunity as part of Poetry Month is included alongside the Fellowship, so we ask that poems submitted with your application be original, unpublished, and not out for submission elsewhere. The Poetry Company does not publish poetry that has been created with the assistance of AI.
Alternative Submission Formats
Need a different format? We encourage all applicants to use the online form if possible, as this is the easiest way for us to manage applications. A Word version is available for drafting your application.
If you need these guidelines in another format, or if you need to submit your application in a different format including video or audio, please email The Poetry Company.
Further questions about your application?
Please email The Poetry Company or call 1800 POETRY. Please note that the Poetry Company office is closed from Mon 21 December 2026 -Mon 4 January 2027 and emails won't be answered during this time.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by the end of March 2027.
TESTIMONIALS
“What a beautiful, inclusive, refreshing retreat! My cup is full. I feel inspired to return to my project when I get home with an increased enthusiasm and confidence I gained while at Varuna.”
THE FINE PRINT:
If you have further queries, please email The Poetry Company or call 1800 POETRY. Please note that the The Poetry Company office is closed from Mon 21 December 2025 -Mon 4 January 2027 and emails won't be answered during this time. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by the end of March 2027.
UPCOMING FELLOWSHIPS COURSES AND EVENTS
