Emerging Writers Residency for writers to develop a new or existing creative writing or text-based project! The 1 month residency comes with a $5000 stipend, Resident’s Studio at Watch This Space and Mentoring support. Tell us why you want to be here in Mparntwe, the outline of the story you have to tell and why this needs to be heard, and all the ways you can share this with our local community.
NTWC x WTS 1—29 March 2023
APPLICATIONS DUE
MIDNIGHT MONDAY 21ST NOVEMBER, 2022
Supported by
WTS
As one of few Artist-Run Initiatives in Central Australia, Watch This Space (WTS) has played a critical role in the creative ecology of Mparntwe/Alice Springs over the past 30 years. Watch This Space is a catalyst and conduit for conversations and experiments in the always-evolving languages of art and adjacent practice. It supports contemporary art dialogue in the region both inside and outside a gallery space, encouraging, nurturing and promoting Central Australian and visiting artists. It is an ARI, encompassing two galleries, six studios, an outdoor cinema, noticeboard, library, recording studio and mobile class room that exists as a site for collectivism to prosper.
Watch This Space values the amplification of voices of local, interstate, and international artists that may go unheard in mainstream spaces. We aim to cultivate a horizontal and inclusive community space for artists where experimentation, questioning, mutual aid, and collective responsibility are made possible, and opportunities for professional and unprofessional development and reciprocal skills- and knowledge-sharing. We orientate ourselves to our position in the centre of so-called Australia, which gives Watch This Space unique proximity to artists across the continent and beyond.
NT WRITERS CENTRE
NT Writers’ Centre supports, develops and showcases vibrant writing and storytelling in the Northern Territory – celebrating the unique contribution of NT stories and storytellers to Australia’s cultural identity.
Our cornerstone event – the NT Writers Festival – is the Northern Territory’s premier literary showcase. Held alternately in Alice Springs and Darwin, it is a festival like no other: bringing readers, writers and storytellers together in an annual celebration of ideas, words, stories and languages that showcases our unique NT culture and rich First Nations heritage.
We also deliver a year-round development program, events and member services that support and develop writers of all genres at all stages of their careers. Our programs aim to unearth new talent, provide development and showcase opportunities, and amplify First Nations and diverse NT voices and stories. In everything we do, the NT Writers’ Centre aims to provide a hub for all readers and writers, and for those interested in ideas, culture, stories and language.
The NTWC x WTS Emerging Writers Residency is a funded opportunity for writers to develop a new or existing creative writing or text-based project during 1—29 March 2023.
The successful applicant/s will be awarded a $5000 stipend to support their development and invited to work from the Resident’s Studio at Watch This Space. They will be supported by WTS and NT Writers staff and receive an additional $1000 writing mentorship budget. Applicants are encouraged to consider public outcomes eg. writing group, performance, reading as a contribution to local communities in Mparntwe (Alice Springs).
Your proposal will be assessed in relation to the following criteria:
Commitment: Demonstrated incubation of the proposal, and the applicants’ commitment to and capacity for its realisation.
Relevancy: Why Mparntwe/Alice Springs, the Central Desert region, or the Northern Territory?
Storytelling: Does the proposal and support material highlight a unique style of storytelling?
Voice: Is the applicant/s’ voice one that is often heard? Is it a voice that we could be working to amplify? How might they benefit from this opportunity?
WHEN PREPARING YOUR PROPOSAL, YOU SHOULD DEMONSTRATE:
A commitment to develop a new or existing creative writing project
Additional outcomes during residency period;
- Host a Writing/Reading Group at WTS
- Host a Performance Event at WTS
- Contribute to WTS online TAiR journal
The relevance of your proposal to WTS and NT Writers aims.
Sensitivity and respect for any work concerning First Nations culture and history.
Culturally inappropriate proposals will not be accepted.The clarity of your proposal.
The quality of your support material and how it aligns with your proposal.
PROGRAM OFFERS:
Free studio hire (fully subsidised thanks to Australia Council for the Arts)
$5,000 writing stipend (Can cover travel, accommodation, wages, insurance
and superannuation expenses as required.)
$1,000 writing mentor (To be negotiated between writer and mentor, but as a
guideline, $80-200 per hour for face to face meetings, reading and/or feedback.
This could be spread over the months leading up to the residency or during the
residency itself. Must be utilised by the close of the residency period)
3.8 x 3.5m studio with desk and chair, including air-conditioning split-system
Creative, practical and professional support from WTS co-directors and NT Writers staff
The opportunity to work in a creative environment amongst five other studio artists as well as local and visiting exhibiting artists
Use of WTS tools and equipment (with prior arrangement)
Access to communal kitchen with fridge, microwave and tea/coffee making facilities
Central location: only a 15 minute walk from the town centre, shops and supermarket
Opportunity to contribute to WTS Creative Program with a writing group, reading or performance during the residency period.
SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS ARE REQUIRED TO:
Pay a $150 bond (refundable on return of studio to its original state).
Become a member of WTS ($35 for a whole year).
