This Fellowship offers $35,000 to support practising writers to develop new creative work using or inspired by the National Library's collections.

Creative Arts Fellowships support the development of creative works inspired by our unique, rare or comprehensive collections.

Works can be at any stage of development but must require access to the collections to progress or be completed. The final work, which does not have to be finished within the residency period, should showcase the collections in unique or interesting ways, and acknowledge their contribution.

The collections can be used to:

• reimagine or repurpose existing materials
• research original sources that underpin or inspire new work
• arrange, adapt or transform collection content for another purpose
• develop an innovative artistic concept.

What Fellows receive

• $35,000 to support sustained research at the National Library
  • Funding is based on 12 weeks onsite at the Library but Fellows are welcome to extend their research period as required without additional funding. Fellows have 24 months to complete their research.
• Supported access to our collections
• Use of the Petherick Reading Room
• Increased borrowing privileges to maximise access to the collection
• A Copies Direct allowance of $1,500 to request high resolution digital copies of collection materials for publication or other public uses (subject to copyright, licensing and access conditions)

To be eligible to apply for a Creative Arts Fellowship, you must be:

• an individual creative writer practising in a professional forum, i.e. your writing is available and subject to public and peer review
• an Australian Citizen or permanent resident.
• able to undertake your Fellowship in Canberra between 18 January 2027 and 8 December 2028.

Potential applicants should consider carefully whether their work will be competitive at the national level.

You cannot apply if:

• you are currently undertaking PhD studies.
  • Your PhD must be conferred before 7 April 2026 to be eligible to apply. Proof of completion may be requested
• you have received a research Fellowship or Scholarship from the National Library of Australia within the last 5 years, i.e. funding was received in one of the Library's 2022-2026 program rounds
• your research supports writing a work of non-fiction
  • These projects are supported by the National Library Fellowships program
• you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

• Phone: +61 2 6262 1099
• Email: fellowships@nla.gov.au