State Library of Tasmania and Tasmanian Archives Fellowships

State Library and Archives of Tasmania Fellowships

Building on the success of the inaugural research and creative fellowships in 2024, the State Library and Archives of Tasmania are pleased to announce an expanded program for 2025.

One Research Fellowship valued at $10,000.
One Creative Fellowship valued at $10,000.
One Aboriginal Fellowship valued at $10,000.
Two Writing Fellowships each valued at $5,000.

Applications for the Fellowships open on September 6^th.

Introduced in 2023 these fellowships support academics, researchers, independent scholars, writers, artists, film makers, digital innovators and creators who would like to explore our amazing collections to gain new insights and generate new works.

The expanded program aims to increase participation across various community sectors extending the use of State Library and Archives of Tasmania collections to both existing clients and new scholars and creators.

Introduction to Collections Workshops

State Library and Archives of Tasmania staff will conduct introduction to Collections Workshops for Fellowship applicants. Current sessions will be on Thursday 19 September from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm and Wednesday 25 September from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Further sessions may be offered if there is demand. To express interest please email: fellowships@libraries.tas.gov.au

Research Fellowship

The Research Fellowship supports historical research, encourages engagement with technology and innovation, promotes the continued relevance of the State Library and Archives of Tasmania and encourages public awareness and interaction with its collections.

The State Library and Archives of Tasmania team supports hundreds of researchers each year in seeking new understanding from examination of government and community records, images, publications, and manuscripts, dating from the early 1800s to the present day. This Fellowship recognises the value of this work in providing greater context for Tasmania’s past and present and encouraging further scholarly enquiry.

Creative Fellowship

The Creative Fellowship supports artists in creating new works that engage with, respond to, and interpret the State Library and Archives of Tasmania collections. We invite applications from artists working in any medium, whether physical, digital, visual, or aural, to develop and showcase their work through exhibitions or performances at the State Library.

Aboriginal Fellowship

The Aboriginal Fellowship supports artists, academics and researchers in creating a project that engages with and interprets State Library and Archives of Tasmania collections. The Fellowship is open to applicants who identify as Tasmanian Aboriginal and are committed to increasing Tasmanian Aboriginals’ access to library and archive collections by uncovering new information from records of the colonial era, and to instigate on-going discussion and information sharing. The successful Fellowship recipient will be supported by an Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer from the State Library and Archives of Tasmania team.

Writing Fellowship

Libraries Tasmania, in partnership with Island Magazine, are offering two creative Writing Fellowships for 2025. These fellowships provide support for two writers to produce a piece of creative writing that illuminates, explores, or reflects upon an aspect of the State Library and Archives of Tasmania collections. These unique collections are vast and intriguing, and include government records, rare books, photographs, and audio recordings, to name only a few. These collections offer incredible possibilities to explore the complex history of Tasmania, its people, objects, places, and communities through such creative writing forms as poetry, short stories, essays or screenplays. The Fellowship includes the possibility of publication in Island Magazine.

Eligibility

Applications for the Fellowships are invited from individuals who meet four eligibility requirements.
Applicants must:

primarily reside in Tasmania
should have either an emerging or established career in one of the Fellowships areas.
be aged 18 or over.
be able to attend an in-person induction at the State Library and Archives of Tasmania in Hobart.

If applicants are located remotely, they must explain how they intend to engage with the physical collections of the State Library and Archives of Tasmania.

Equal consideration will be given to regular users of the State Library and Archives of Tasmania and those who are new to our institutions.

Applicants are welcome to submit one, distinct application for each fellowship. Multiple applications for the same fellowship will not be accepted.

Previous applicants are welcome to apply. Individuals who have previously worked on projects or fellowships through the State Library and Archives of Tasmania are welcome to apply, provided that their proposal is for distinct, new work.

Fellowships will not be awarded to:

Groups of artists or researchers
Libraries Tasmania employees.

Selection criteria

Applications will be judged on four criteria:

Level of engagement and development evident in the project idea
Level of awareness and planning evident for the twelve-month period
Relevance to specific State Library and Archives of Tasmania collections
Evidence of the applicant’s existing body of work, whether established or in development.

All applications must demonstrate cultural sensitivity. We encourage applicants who engage with groups who are not traditionally regular library users, and those who use innovative ways to engage with and showcase our collections. We welcome applications and applicants that represent diversity.

Costs covered by the Fellowship

Each of the Research, Creative and Aboriginal Fellowships awards a sum of $10,000.

The two Writing Fellowships each award a sum of $5,000.

Funds can be spent at the recipient’s discretion on any cost which supports their proposed project. All costs related to the project’s completion and presentation are the responsibility of the recipients. Additional funds will not be provided by Libraries Tasmania.

The Fellowship must be used to fund a new, standalone project. It cannot be combined with another fellowship or sponsorship, nor used to continue an existing project.

Any financial or tax matters related to receipt of the Fellowship will be the responsibility of the recipient.

Expectations of Fellowship recipients

There is an expectation that work completed during the fellowship will be accessible through the State Library and Archives of Tasmania. This will depend on the nature of the work and will be negotiated. Ownership of all work completed for the fellowship remains with the creator.

Fellowship recipients must agree to:

Be aware of, or prepared to engage with, current research within libraries and archives.
Follow ethical standards set by the State Library and Archives of Tasmania
Prominently acknowledge the State Library and Archives of Tasmania, and the fellowship, in all publications or media coverage of their project
become a Libraries Tasmania member, if not one already. This is a simple, free process.

Fellowship recipients must treat the fellowship as a priority during their twelve-month tenure, including:

Participation in the public launch of their project
Participation in the public presentation of their completed project
Active promotion of their project using various media channels
Communication with a Library mentor, who will be available for consultation and to conduct progress reports over the duration of the Fellowship.

Research Fellowship recipients must also: