Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
from the Melbourne Prize Trust
Announcements / Winners
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Awards presentation at Deakin Edge, Federation Square – November
Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM wins the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 and Kate Ryan the Writers Prize 2015
Andrea Goldsmith wins the Best Writing Award 2015 for Memory Trap 4th Estate, 2013. The Award was accepted on Andrea’s behalf by Dennis Altman (pictured).
Writers Prize 2015 finalist, Robyn Annear wins the Civic Choice Award 2015. Mark Rubbo of Readings and Julie Pinkham of Hardie Grant Books pictured.
Public exhibition of finalists at Federation Square Melbourne / Civic Choice Award 2015 – winner Robyn Annear
Photos courtesy Leisa Hunt Photography
The winners in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015, Best Writing Award 2015 and the new Writers Prize 2015 have been announced.
Click here for the winners in each category.
Current annual Melbourne Prize cycle – 2014 to 2016
Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2014 (completed)
Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 (completed)
Melbourne Prize for Music 2016
MELBOURNE PRIZE 2015 NEWS
Registration of interest opens for the Melbourne Prize for Music 2016 – click here.
Posted on 08 Dec
Exhibition and public voting have closed. Thank you for your interest and support.
Posted on 23 November
2015 winner announced – click here.
Posted on 11 November
The Melbourne Prize for Music will be offered in 2016 – keep an eye on this website.
Click here for the finalist catalogue
Click here for the media release
Click here for the Prize & Award summary
Click here for the 2015 Partners & Patrons
Click here for the finalists’ books.
The five finalist essays in the Writers Prize 2015 have been published into and eBook, which is generously supported by the Griffith Review – click here for a copy.
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JUDGING PANEL
The Melbourne Prize Trust regrets to announce that Helen Garner, for medical reasons, has had to step down as a judge this year. We would like to thank Helen for joining the judging panel and wish her well.
Click here to see the judges.
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MELBOURNE PRIZE TRUST
The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 and Awards are one of the most valuable literature prizes in Australia.
The winners in the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015, the Best Writing Award 2015, plus the new category to continue our 10th anniversary celebration – the Writers Prize 2015 – have been announced on this website.
The Residency at The University of Melbourne has been awarded.
To showcase the work of the finalists and engage the public with the abundant literary talent in Victoria, the finalists in each category were on show at Federation Square between 9 and 23 November 2015, where a free catalogue was made available. Thank you for voting in the $6,000 Civic Choice Award 2015.
Federation Square is the exhibition and events partner and 'home' of the annual Melbourne Prize. This long-term partnership makes it possible for the public, visiting the free public exhibition each November, to engage with abundant talent in literature, music and (urban) sculpture as part of the annual Melbourne Prize three-year cycle. It provides artists with public exposure in one of the country's most visited public spaces.
In our 11th year, the Melbourne Prize Trust appreciates Federation Square's generous support, which enhances our creative resources and provides opportunities to promote our abundant artistic talent through the annual Melbourne Prize.
We are pleased to have the Victorian Government, through Creative Victoria, and the City of Melbourne as partners.
We proudly support Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature, which recognises the importance of literature in the city and state and the important role writers played, and continue to play, in the cultural life of our community. We look forward to promoting and developing literature in our community and providing opportunities for writers.
We proudly support Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature and look forward to demonstrating the importance of literature in our community and providing opportunities for writers.
The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 and Awards are made possible this year through the generous support of our partners and patrons - thank you one and all for your valuable community investment in literature.
Thank you to the literary sector and the many organisations, publications and websites who have generously helped the Trust raise awareness of our 2015 program.
Simon H Warrender
Executive Director & Founder
Melbourne Prize Trust
Click here for information on the Melbourne Prize Trust
WINNERS & FINALISTS
Click here for the Prize & Award summary
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2015 finalists
Steven Carroll
Brenda Niall
Christos Tsiolkas
Professor Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM — Winner
Alexis Wright
Best Writing Award 2015 finalists and entered work
James Button, Speechless A year in my father's business MUP, 2012
Patricia Cornelius, Savages,
Playlab 2014
Andrea Goldsmith — Winner
The Memory Trap, Fourth Estate 2014
Gideon Haigh, On Warne,
Penguin Books 2012
Daniel Keene, Mother,
Currency Press 2015
Alex Miller, Coal Creek,
Allen & Unwin 2013
John Safran, Murder in Mississippi,
Penguin Books 2013
Maria Takolander, The Double,
Text Publishing 2013
Abigail Ulman, Hot Little Hands, Hamish Hamilton Penguin Books, 2015
Don Watson, The Bush, Hamish Hamilton Penguin Books, 2014
Writers Prize 2015 finalists and essays
Robyn Annear, Places Without Poetry
Nick Gadd, The Unconscious of the City
Kate Ryan — Winner
Psychotherapy for Normal People
David Sornig, Jubilee: a hymn for Elsie Williams on Dudley Flats
Maria Tumarkin, No Skin
Click here to download an eBook of the finalists essays.
Residency
School of Culture & CommunicationsThe University of Melbourne
Kate Ryan — Winner
Writers Prize 2015 finalist
Essay: Psychotherapy for Normal People
Civic Choice Award 2015
Robyn Annear — Winner
Writers Prize 2015 finalist
Essay: Places Without Poetry
The Melbourne Prize Trust would like to thank all entrants this year.
JUDGES STATEMENT
As the winner of the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015, Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM continues an imposing and significant influence on Australian literature, in the genre of poetry. Chris has established himself among the vanguard of international poetry giants and made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and cultural and intellectual life. Chris has devoted his career to teaching mentoring and supporting new generations of writers.
As the winner of the Best Writing Award 2015, Andrea Goldsmith's entered work, The Memory Trap, 4th Estate 2013 is visceral, immediate and psychologically gripping and builds on her already impressive body of work. It demonstrates outstanding clarity, originality and creativity and suggests even greater achievements in writing yet to come.
As the inaugural winner of the Writers Prize 2015, Kate Ryan's entered essay, Psychotherapy for Normal People, is a powerful and engaging work and account of the psychotherapeutic process by an accomplished Victorian writer.
The judges congratulate the 2015 winners and finalists and thank all applicants and nominees for their entries.
JUDGES
Lisa Dempster
Mark Rubbo OAM
Michael Williams
Craig Sherborne
Prize & Awards summary
Prize & Awards summary
This section provides a summary of the 2015 Prize and Awards.
Click here for the winner and finalists in each category.
Melbourne Prize for
Literature 2015
$60,000 cash
Supported by The Vera Moore Foundation and The Tallis Foundation.
The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015 is for a Victorian author whose body of published work has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life.
The author’s work can include all genres and forms, for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry. There is no age limit for this prize.
Entrants must be commercially published authors.
Best Writing Award 2015
$30,000 + $2,500 Qantas airfare credit
Supported by its sole patron, The Robert Salzer Foundation.
The Best Writing Award 2015 is for a published work of outstanding clarity, originality and creativity by a Victorian writer.
The work can be any genre for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry. There is no age limit for this award.
The recipient of this award will also receive Qantas International air travel to the value of $2,500 (including GST).
Entrants must be commercially published authors.
Writers Prize 2015
$20,000 + $2,000 each for five finalists
Supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, in association with the Malcolm Robertson Foundation.
The Writers Prize 2015 is a new category made available this year to continue the 10th anniversary celebrations of the annual Melbourne Prize.
Entrants to the Writers Prize 2015 must submit, by the close of entries (20 July 2015), an essay of up to 20,000 words (minimum 10,000 words).
The essay must include Melbourne, Victoria or Australia as part of its subject. Submitted work in the Prize must not have been commercially published.
Five (5) finalists will be selected by the judges, who will be announced on 2 September. A $2,000 fee (including GST) will be given to each of the five finalists.The winning author will receive the Writers Prize 2015, valued at $20,000.
Entrants must be commercially published authors.
The five finalit essays have been published in an eBook, which has been generously made possible by the Griffith Review. Click here for the eBook.
Civic Choice Award 2015
$6,000
Supported by Readings and Hardie Grant Books.
Voting is closed. The announcement of the winner of the Civic Choice Award 2015 will be made on 27 November 2015 at melbourneprize.org
Residency
Supported by The University of Melbourne.
A residency at the School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne will be awarded, at the discretion of the judges, to either the recipient of the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2015, the Best Writing Award 2015 or the Writers Prize 2015.
"We look forward to recognising, rewarding and providing opportunities for Victorian writers"
www.melbourneprizetrust.org
Key Dates
Entries Open
18 May 2015Entries Close
20 July 2015All announcements will be made at melbourneprize.org
2015 Finalists Announced
2 September 2015Finalist Exhibition
9 to 23 November 2015Winners Announced
11 November 2015Civic Choice Award 2015 Announcement
27 November 2015Judges
Lisa Dempster
Artistic Director & CEO
Melbourne Writers Festival
Craig Sherborne
Writer
Mark Rubbo OAM
Managing Director
Readings Books Music and Film
Michael Williams
Director
The Wheeler Centre
Photo courtesy of Lee Sandwith
Past Winners
Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2015
Photo credit: Robert Colvin
Robyn Annear
Civic Choice Award 2015
Essay: Places Without Poetry
Alex Miller
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2012
Gerald Murnane
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2009
Helen Garner
Melbourne Prize
for Literature 2006
Images courtesy of Melbourne Prize Trust
Click here for the annual Melbourne
Prize Alumni 2005 to 2014.
Andrea Goldsmith
Best Writing Award 2015
The Memory Trap(Fourth Estate, 2013)
Craig Sherborne
Best Writing Award 2012
The Amateur Science of Love(Text, 2011)
Nam Le
Best Writing Award 2009
The Boat (Penguin, 2008)
Christos Tsiolkas
Best Writing Award 2006
Dead Europe (Random House, 2005)Photo by Monica Ali
Kate Ryan
Writers Prize 2015 & Residency
Essay: Psychotherapy for Normal People
Tony Birch
Civic Choice Award 2012
Blood (UQP, 2011)
Amra Pajalic
Civic Choice Award 2009
The Good Daughter (Text, 2009)
Henry von Doussa
Civic Choice Award 2006
The Park Bench(Thompson Walker, 2005)
Partners and Patrons
About
The annual Melbourne Prize
Launched in 2004, the Melbourne Prize Trust recognises and rewards excellence and talent, inspires creative development and enriches public life. The Trust achieves these aims by running the annual Melbourne Prize, which is funded by a collaboration of partners and patrons.
To date, approximately $1 million has been made available to Victorian artists via the annual Melbourne Prize, plus exhibitions, residencies and international travel. The Trust is an Income Tax Exempt Charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status.
The annual Melbourne Prize is one of the most valuable creative development initiatives of its kind in Australia. It runs on a three-year cycle and rewards sculptors, writers and musicians in turn.
The current cycle is:
/ Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture (2014)
/ Melbourne Prize for Literature (2015)
/ Melbourne Prize for Music (2016)
The annual Melbourne Prize is unique, celebrating artistic excellence under the banner of Melbourne.
The major event of the annual Melbourne Prize is the free two-week public exhibition of finalists work and the prize announcement held each November at Federation Square. The public can vote for a finalist to win the Civic Choice Award. The exhibition increases the public’s exposure and access to the creativity of our community and enhances Melbourne’s reputation as a cultural capital.
The origins of the Trust date back to the establishment of the children’s garden precinct at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the commissioning of The Magic Pudding sculpture in 2000. Proceeds from the sale of limited edition miniatures of this landmark sculpture contribute to the Trust.
Image courtesy of Cornwell Design
Miniatures are handmade by Fundere Fine Art Foundry
Please contact the Melbourne Prize Trust on (03) 9696 4410 to purchase a miniature.
History
The Melbourne Prize Trust was established as an Income Tax Exempt Charity and Deductible Gift Recipient in 2004 and commenced the annual Melbourne Prize in 2005.
The founder of the Trust, Simon Warrender, announced the annual Melbourne Prize, following the unveiling of his project being the commissioning of The Magic Pudding sculpture, as a centerpiece of a new children’s garden precinct in Melbourne’s CBD.
The prize is established to provide opportunities for artists and recognise and reward excellence and talent, inspire creative development and enrich public life.
Proceeds from the sale of miniatures of the Royal Botanic Garden’s sculpture of The Magic Pudding contribute to the Melbourne Prize Trust. Click here to order a miniature.
The first three year cycle of the annual Melbourne Prize commenced with the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2005. The Trust funds the annual Melbourne Prize through cross-sector partnerships from the government and private sectors, and private patrons. The annual Melbourne Prize is open to Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents and residents of the State of Victoria. The home of the annual Melbourne Prize is Federation Square, where an exhibition of finalists, according to each cycle, is held each November. All recipients are announced on this website.
Click here for more information about making a tax-deductible donation to the Melbourne Prize Trust.
Thank you for visiting our website and your interest in the annual Melbourne Prize.
The annual Melbourne Prize was founded by Simon Warrender with the foundation assistance of the Committee for Melbourne.
Donations
The Melbourne Prize Trust is supported by tax-deductible public donations to the Melbourne Prize Fund and corporate sponsorship. The Trust is listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient status for the Melbourne Prize Fund.
The Melbourne Prize Fund is used, along with sponsors and patrons, to contribute to the activities of the Melbourne Prize Trust and annual Melbourne Prize.
Click here for contact details to enquire about making a tax-deductible donation to the Melbourne Prize Fund.
Governance
Melbourne Prize Trust
ABN 46 190 726 471
Melbourne Prize Limited as Trustee for Melbourne Prize Trust
ACN 107 593 868
Directors
Dr Janine Kirk AMChairman
Simon H Warrender
Executive Director, Founder and Secretary
Professor Andrea Hull AO
Pamela M Warrender OAM
David Laidlaw
Management Committee
Dr Janine Kirk AMChief Executive – The Prince’s Charities Australia
Anthony Poynton
Partner, Minter Ellison Lawyers
Simon H Warrender
Executive Director and Founder, Melbourne Prize Limited
Auditor
Grant ThorntonSimon Warrender
Simon, as a Bachelor of Business and Grad. Dip. in Applied Science, has extensive experience in the financial and aviation sectors and is the founder and Executive Director of the Melbourne Prize Trust. He has established a number of public benefit projects.
Dr Janine Kirk AM
Janine has over 30 years of senior management experience in both the private and public sectors. Over the last decade Janine has been a Ministerial appointee to an extensive range of State Government Committees, Councils and Boards in sectors as diverse as industry, marketing & branding, innovation, tourism and events, community development, infrastructure, finance, education, drug prevention, international trade and urban planning.
Professor Andrea Hull AO
Professor Andrea Hull AO has had a distinguished career in the arts, cultural policy, and arts education in Chief Executive and Board advisory roles in Federal and State Government, and in education. Andrea has served on a wide variety of Federal and State Boards covering cultural, health promotion, cultural and public diplomacy, urban renewal and design, tourism, and innovation agendas.
Pamela M Warrender OAM
Pamela has had extensive experience in the arts and cultural sector over many decades and played a foundation role in the Australian modern arts movement. Pamela is the founder of the Committee for Melbourne and a published author.
David Laidlaw
David Laidlaw is a litigation partner and former CEO with a leading Australian law firm. David has served on a number arts company boards and was instrumental in fostering his law firm’s support of Australian artists, including its sponsorship of artists selected to represent Australia at the Venice Biennales. He was also responsible for the establishment of his firm major art prize.
Contact Us
Melbourne Prize Trust
234 St Kilda Road
Southbank VIC 3006
Telephone (03) 9696 4410
enquire[a]melbourneprizetrust.org
www.melbourneprizetrust.org
The Melbourne Prize Trust is an Income Tax Exempt Charity with
Deductible Gift Recipient Status and runs
the annual Melbourne Prize.