WELCOME

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MELBOURNE PRIZE TRUST

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021 & Awards.

The program this year has been made possible through the generous ongoing support from our partners, which is appreciated during this challenging time.

The catalogue showcases the shortlist for the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021 and $15,000 Writer’s Prize 2021. The winner of the Professional Development Award 2021 is presented as well. The winner of the $3,000 Civic Choice Award 2021 will be announce on November 11.

Thank you to all the finalists, who will each receive $1,000, which is generously supported by Fed Square.

We would like to acknowledge the dedication of the 2021 judges Alice Pung, Declan Fry and Michael Williams, who you can read about in this catalogue. Thank you also to all entrants and nominators for their time and effort in submitting this year. Thank you to the literary sector and the many organisations, publications and websites who have generously helped raise awareness of and supported our 2021 program.

The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021 & Award provides opportunities to Victorian published authors, showcases the abundant literary talent in our community and helps develop the literary sector, especially during these challenging time.

Going into its 18th year in 2022, the annual Melbourne Prize continues its objective to demonstrate the importance of literature, music and (urban) sculpture in our community and to demonstrate the importance of recognising and rewarding creative talent.

The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021 and Awards are made possible through the generous support of our many partners and patrons who can be seen in this catalogue — thank you one and all for your valuable community investment in literature.

We are proud to promote Melbourne as a UNESCO City of Literature and to have the Victorian Government, through Creative Victoria, and the City of Melbourne as Government Partners.

Please enjoy reading the catalogue.

Thank you for visiting our website.

Simon Warrender
Executive Director & Founder
Melbourne Prize Trust

 

Thank You

Thank you to our 2021 partners and patrons and the literary sector for supporting our activities this year.


2021 DESIGN BY PLAYGROUND

The art of spreading ideas and broadening perspectives falls to writers of all disciplines. These ideas flow outward and evolve as they spread, taking on an unpredictable life of their own. This intangible process has been visualised using typographic forms which slowly evolve into abstract patterns, representing the process of growth and progress.


WEBSITE BY THE MIGHTY WONTON


Melbourne is a UNESCO international City of Literature, which recognises the importance of literature and the central role that writers play in the cultural life of our community.


We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Melbourne Prize Trust operates, the People of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to the elders, past, present and future.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Click here for the newsletter.
Click here for the media release.
Click here for the catalogue.
Click here for finalists’ videos.
Click here for the four finalists’ essays inMeanjin


WINNER — Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021
CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS

The Prize is for a Victorian published author whose body of published work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life.

Christos Tsiolkas is the author of seven novels, with his work being adapted for film, television and the stage and translated into 22 languages. He has been shortlisted for and is the recipient of a number of major literary Awards. Christos has been a Cultural Ambassador for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre since 2013 and a patron for Writers Victoria since 2017. He lives in Melbourne with his partner Wayne van der Stelt.

The Prize is supported by major patron, The Vera Moore Foundation.

The shortlisted authors for this Prize are:

  • Jordie Albiston
  • Maxine Beneba Clarke
  • Pi O
  • Christos Tsiolkas

For information about each finalist, click here.


WINNER — Professional Development Award 2021
EVELYN ARALUEN

The Award is for a Victorian published author to fund a project/s, travel or other proposals that will assist them pursue their writing career. There are no finalists in this Award.

Evelyn Araluen is a poet, researcher and co-editor of well-known literary magazine. Her highly acclaimed first poetry collection was published this year and shortlisted for a major literary award. Her criticism, fiction and
poetry has been widely published and has also been awarded a number of major literary prizes. Born and raised in Dharug country, she is a descendant of the Bundjalung nation.

The Award is supported by the Melbourne Prize Trust.


WINNER — Writer’s Prize 2021
ELOISE VICTORIA GRILLS

The Prize is awarded for an essay (10,000 words maximum) of outstanding originality, literary merit and creative freshness.

Eloise is an essayist, poet and comics artist who is currently working on her first full-length illustrated essay collection. Her work has been recognised in a number of awards. Eloise works as a creative writing tutor and as a facilitating artist and holds a Masters in Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing.

The Prize is supported by The Robert Salzer Foundation.

The shortlisted essays are by:

  • Vivian Blaxell
  • Eloise Victoria Grills
  • David Sornig
  • Ouyang Yu

For information about each finalist, click here.


WINNER — Civic Choice Award 2021
MAXINE BENEBA CLARKE

The Award is given to the finalist, in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021 and Writer’s Prize 2021, with the highest number of votes received from the public.

Voters have a chance to win a $100 Readings Gift Voucher.

Maxine Beneba Clarke is an Australian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent and the multi-award- winning author of ten published books for children and adults. Maxine is a finalist in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2021.

The Award is supported by:

Key Dates

ENTRIES OPEN
17 May 2021

ENTRIES CLOSE
19 July 2021 at 5pm

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED / VOTING OPEN FOR CIVIC CHOICE AWARD 2021
15 September 2021

WINNERS ANNOUNCED / FINALIST CATALOGUE RELEASED
10 November 2021 at 6pm via live online broadcast at melbourneprize.org

CIVIC CHOICE AWARD 2021 WINNER ANNOUNCED
11 November 2021 at melbourneprize.org

PARTNERS & PATRONS

Thank you to our 2021 partners and patrons.