To register your interest in the Melbourne Prize for Music 2019 & Awards, please click here – prize pool over $100,000.
Click here for information on the Melbourne Prize for Music in past years.
PRIZE &
AWARDS
MELBOURNE PRIZE
FOR LITERATURE 2018
$60,000
SUPPORTED BY THE VERA MOORE FOUNDATION, THE TALLIS FOUNDATION AND THE MELBOURNE PRIZE TRUST.
The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2018 is for a Victorian author whose body of published work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life.
The author’s work can include all genres, for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry. There is no age limit for this Prize.
BEST WRITING
AWARD 2018
$30,000
SUPPORTED BY ITS SOLE PATRON, THE ROBERT SALZER FOUNDATION.
The Best Writing Award 2018 is for a published work of outstanding clarity, originality and creativity by a Victorian writer.
The work can be any genre for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry. There is no age limit for this award.
SUPPORTED BY THE VERA MOORE FOUNDATION, THE TALLIS FOUNDATION AND THE MELBOURNE PRIZE TRUST.
The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2018 is for a Victorian author whose body of published work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life.
The author’s work can include all genres, for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry. There is no age limit for this Prize.
SUPPORTED BY ITS SOLE PATRON, THE ROBERT SALZER FOUNDATION.
The Best Writing Award 2018 is for a published work of outstanding clarity, originality and creativity by a Victorian writer.
The work can be any genre for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry. There is no age limit for this award.
READINGS RESIDENCY
AWARD 2018
$7,500
SUPPORTED BY READINGS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE AND QANTAS.
The Readings Award 2018 is for an early career published Victorian author, across all writing genres.
The recipient of this Award will also receive Qantas International air travel to the value of $2,500 (including GST).
The residency at the Norma Redpath Studio in Carlton will be flexible to meet the needs of the winner.
The Award will enable the recipient to immerse themselves in their literary pursuits in a unique environment in the heart of Melbourne’s creative community and to travel.
Norma Redpath died in 2013. Some years prior to her death Norma came to an arrangement with the University of Melbourne to occupy and renovate a blue stone cottage owned by the University that was adjacent to her studio in Carlton.
The studio had belonged to her partner, the late Professor Sydney Rubbo. Under the terms of the arrangement the University became the owner of both properties on Norma’s death.
The University of Melbourne assumed management of the studio after her death and since then it has been made available to artists, writers and academics.
The timing and length of the residency will be negotiated between the recipient and The University of Melbourne following the announcement.
/ $5,000 cash supported by Readings
/ $2,500 Qantas airfare voucher
/ Residency at the Norman Redpath Studio, Carlton
supported by The University of Melbourne,
Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.
Affiliation with the School of Culture and
Communications in the Faculty of Arts
during the residency.
CIVIC CHOICE
AWARD 2018
$4,000
A public exhibition of the finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2018, the Best Writing Award 2018 and the Readings Residency Award will be held at Federation Square between 12 and 26 November 2018.
This Award will be given to the finalist with the highest number of public votes.
Votes can be made using the online Voting Form, available at on this site from the announcement of finalists on 12 September to the close of the Federation Square exhibition on 26 November.
SUPPORTED BY READINGS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE AND QANTAS.
The Readings Award 2018 is for an early career published Victorian author, across all writing genres.
The recipient of this Award will also receive Qantas International air travel to the value of $2,500 (including GST).
The residency at the Norma Redpath Studio in Carlton will be flexible to meet the needs of the winner.
The Award will enable the recipient to immerse themselves in their literary pursuits in a unique environment in the heart of Melbourne’s creative community and to travel.
Norma Redpath died in 2013. Some years prior to her death Norma came to an arrangement with the University of Melbourne to occupy and renovate a blue stone cottage owned by the University that was adjacent to her studio in Carlton.
The studio had belonged to her partner, the late Professor Sydney Rubbo. Under the terms of the arrangement the University became the owner of both properties on Norma’s death.
The University of Melbourne assumed management of the studio after her death and since then it has been made available to artists, writers and academics.
The timing and length of the residency will be negotiated between the recipient and The University of Melbourne following the announcement.
/ $5,000 cash supported by Readings
/ $2,500 Qantas airfare voucher
/ Residency at the Norman Redpath Studio, Carlton
supported by The University of Melbourne,
Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.
Affiliation with the School of Culture and
Communications in the Faculty of Arts
during the residency.
A public exhibition of the finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2018, the Best Writing Award 2018 and the Readings Residency Award will be held at Federation Square between 12 and 26 November 2018.
This Award will be given to the finalist with the highest number of public votes.
Votes can be made using the online Voting Form, available at on this site from the announcement of finalists on 12 September to the close of the Federation Square exhibition on 26 November.
PAST
WINNERS
2015
Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2015
Photo by Robert Colvin
Andrea Goldsmith
Best Writing Award 2015
The Memory Trap (Fourth Estate, 2013)
Kate Ryan
Writers Prize 2015 & Residency
Essay: Psychotherapy for Normal People
Robyn Annear
Civic Choice Award 2015
Essay: Places Without Poetry
2012
Alex Miller
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2012
Craig Sherborne
Best Writing Award 2012
The Amateur Science of Love (Text, 2011)
Tony Birch
Civic Choice Award 2012
Blood (UQP, 2011)
2009
Gerald Murnane
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2009
Nam Le
Best Writing Award 2009
The Boat (Penguin, 2008)
Amra Pajalic
Civic Choice Award 2009
The Good Daughter (Text, 2009)
2006
Helen Garner
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2006
Christos Tsiolkas
Best Writing Award 2006
Dead Europe (Random House, 2005)
Photo by Monica Ali
Henry von Doussa
Civic Choice Award 2006
The Park Bench (Thompson Walker, 2005)