01 May 2013
New Zealand authors will attend high-profile international literary festivals and share our literary culture and heritage on the world stage with assistance from New Zealand Book Council/Creative New Zealand International Travel Fund grants.
Eleanor Catton, Aki Fukuoka, Charlotte Grimshaw, C.K. Stead, Fiona Kidman, Kate De Goldi, Dylan Horrocks, and Rhiann Gallagher will be supported through the Book Council’s/Creative New Zealand's International Programme to attend a range of upcoming international literary events. The purpose of the fund is to support and showcase New Zealand writing talent at a range of key international writing festivals.
Last year the programme supported five writers to attend high-profile international literary events. Emily Perkins attended the Sydney Writers Festival and Hay-on-Wye Festival. Perkins wrote about her experience at the Sydney Writers Festival for the Book Council blog, comprising an account of the minutes before a session:
The publicist breaks first. ‘What’s your approach?’
‘The usual,’ the chair says. ‘The writing process.’
‘Any angles on the book? Any themes? How do you want to introduce Emily?’
‘Oh,’ says the chair, who is after all a professional broadcaster and should be trusted, ‘I’ll wing it.’
‘Great,’ I say, in a voice octaves higher than my own.’
Read her piece in full here.
Since 2009 the programme has made a more targeted approach to enhancing the profile of New Zealand writing overseas by developing long term relationships with a specific range of international festivals. Strong relationships have been developed with close neighbour Australia and important international English language festivals in the UK, Canada and the United States.
For further information about the International Writers' Programme visit the Book Council website www.bookcouncil.org.nz or contact Book Council Chief Executive Catriona Ferguson by email: director[AT]bookcouncil.org.nz or phone: +64 4 801 5546
2013 International Writers' Fund grants:
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Eleanor Catton
$3000
Melbourne Writers Festival
Aki Fukuoka
$500
IFOA International Festival of Authors, Vancouver International Writers Festival & Wordfest in Banff-Calgary
Charlotte Grimshaw and C.K. Stead
$6500
IFOA International Festival of Authors
Fiona Kidman
$3250
Brisbane Writers Festival
Kate De Goldi and Dylan Horrocks
$1250
Various UK and Europe Festivals
C.K. Stead
$500
King’s Lynn Poetry Festival and UK readings
Rhiann Gallagher
$2500
CATEGORIES: Fellowships awards and residencies, Funding for individuals, International Latest news and blog
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