- Four finalists announced in $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024
- Five finalist essays announced in $10,000 Writers Prize 2024
- Public voting opens for Civic Choice Award 2024
- Celebrating 20 years of the annual Melbourne Prize this year
- Judges include three esteemed literary sector professionals: Evelyn Araluen, Christos Tsiolkas and Michael Williams.
Today, four finalists have been announced in the city's most sought after literature prize - the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024. The Prize is one of Australia's most valuable and prestigious literary awards.
Supported by major patron, The Vera Moore Foundation, the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024 will be awarded to a Victorian author whose body of published work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life. The finalists are:
Patricia Cornelius Garry Disher Pi O Alexis Wright
The Robert Salzer Foundation are the sole patron of The Writers Prize 2024 valued at $10,000, which will be awarded to the author of an essay of outstanding originality, literary merit and creative freshness. The winning essay will be published in meanjin. The finalists are:
Judith Bishop Marika Sosnowski Jeff Sparrow Carrie Tiffany Beau Windon
Judge's Statement: For twenty years now the annual Melbourne Prize has captured the scope and ambition of writerly achievement in this City of Literature. For the judges, assessing The Writers Prize and the Melbourne Prize for Literature side by side gives an opportunity to consider vital and urgent new writing in essay form, and then also the question of a lasting contribution and bodies of work by our literary greats. The field was very strong, and beyond the excellent shortlists, the range of entries were a pleasure to read and a reminder of the breadth and strength of writers working in this country today. Our thanks and respect to all entrants. We were all very much impressed by the standard of essays submitted for The Writers Prize this year. There was real commitment to intellectual rigour and curiosity in the best essays, as well as a fearlessness and a desire to be creatively daring. It was wonderful to read such an invigorating collection. Equally, the impressive range of applications for the Melbourne Prize for Literature speaks to both the outstanding writers we have in this country and the integrity and reputation of the annual Melbourne Prize itself. For the three of us, it was an honour and a (sometimes daunting) pleasure to be part of this judging panel.
The inaugural Falls Creek Writers Residencies 2024, supported by Falls Creek Alpine Resort, includes two 3-week residencies at the resort and $1,000 for each recipient, supported by Readings, to be announced at www.melbourneprize.org on November 14.
Hardie Grant Books generously support the $1,500 Civic Choice Award 2024, awarded to a finalist with the highest number of public votes. Voting opens today at www.melbourneprize.org. Voters have a chance to win a $100 Readings gift voucher.
Now in its 20th year, the annual Melbourne Prize continues to provide opportunities to Victorian writers, musicians and sculptors and demonstrates the importance of recognising and rewarding creative talent in the State.
Melbourne's status as a UNESCO City of Literature is supported by abundant talent and a vibrant literary sector. This year's award categories recognise an outstanding body of work, creative new work, provide writers residencies and enable the public to vote for their favourite finalist.
Newly appointed Trust Chairman, Clive Scott AM said, "I am delighted with the strong response to this year's literature prize, which marks 20 years of the annual Melbourne Prize".
Melbourne Prize Trust Founder and Executive Director Simon Warrender said, "The calibre of finalists reflects the excellent response to the Prize from the Victorian literary sector and the huge talent we have in the state. We remain immensely grateful for the generous community investment we continue to receive from our partners and patrons, many of whom have been with us since we started".
An exhibition of finalists will be on show at Event Partner Fed Square from November 3rd to 14th, where visitors will be able to learn about the finalists and cast a vote for a finalist to win the Civic Choice Award 2024 – a digital catalogue will be available for the exhibition. All non-winning finalists receive $1,000, supported by Fed Square.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Melbourne Prize Trust operates, the People of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to the elders, past, present and future.
Finalists announced September 4 at www.melbourneprize.org / Civic Choice Award 2024 public voting opens
Winners in all award categories announced November 14 at www.melbourneprize.org
