Winners announced in Melbourne’s top literature prize
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The winner of the prestigious $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature has been announced at Fed Square this evening.
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The winner, Alexis Wright, has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life.
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Four winners have also been announced in other prize categories.
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This year marks 20 years of the annual Melbourne Prize.
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The Prize was judged by three esteemed literary sector professionals.
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.
Today, the winner of one of Australia’s most valuable and sought-after literary prizes has been announced, along with four other recipients across the valuable prize pool.
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Supported by major patron, The Vera Moore Foundation, the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024 is awarded to ALEXIS WRIGHT for her body of published work and an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life. Alexis Wright, a member of the Waanyi Nation of the Southern Highlands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, is a world- renowned author of groundbreaking published works including four novels and several works of non-fiction. We acknowledge and congratulate the three finalists in the Prize, Patricia Cornelius, Garry Disher and Pi O. The Robert Salzer Foundation are the sole patron of The Writers Prize 2024 valued at $10,000, which has been awarded to CARRIE TIFFANY for her essay titled Seven snakes, which was selected for its outstanding originality, literary merit and creative freshness. The winning essay will be published in Meanjin 83.4 Summer 2024. We congratulate the finalists Judith Bishop, Marika Sosnowski, Jeff Sparrow and Beau Windon. The inaugural Falls Creek Writers Residencies 2024, supported by Falls Creek Alpine Resort and Readings, which includes two 3-week residencies at the resort and $1,000 for each recipient, has been won by ANGUS CERINI and CLAIRE THOMAS. Hardie Grant Books generously support the $1,500 Civic Choice Award 2024, which has been won by a finalist in The Writers Prize, JUDITH BISHOP, who received the highest number of public votes. |
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Click here to see interviews with each of the nine finalists and click here for the Finalist Catalogue. All non-recipient finalists receive $1,000, supported by Fed Square. Thank you to our three esteemed judges Evelyn Araluen, Christos Tsiolkas and Michael Williams. 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 and those in the inaugural Falls Creek Writers Residencies. 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. |
Celebrating 20 years, the annual Melbourne Prize is an established part of our cultural landscape and continues to provide opportunities to Victorian writers, musicians and sculptors to develop our creative sector. The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024 & Awards enhances Melbourne as a UNESCO City of Literature and a centre of opportunity for writers.
Newly appointed Trust Chairman, Clive Scott AM said, “Congratulations to this year’s winners and to the finalists and entrants, who have contributed to an overwhelming response in our 20th year”.
Melbourne Prize Trust Founder and Executive Director Simon Warrender said, “We could not have come this far without the generous support of our many partners and patrons – thank you one and all and to the local literary sector”.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said: “The Melbourne Prize for Literature is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the work of local writers and the contribution they make to our lives and to the fabric of our culture and society. Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you to the Melbourne Prize Trust for continuing to back Victorian artists and stories.”
An exhibition of finalists will be available at Event Partner Fed Square from November 3rd to 14th, where visitors will be able to learn about the prize and finalists and cast a vote for a finalist to win the Civic Choice Award 2024.
For further information please visit www.melbourneprize.org
Notes to the editor:
The Melbourne Prize Trust was established in 2004 to recognise and reward talent, excellence and inspire creative development. The Trust achieves this aim by running the annual Melbourne Prize, which is funded by private and public sector partnerships and patrons. The Melbourne Prize Trust and annual Melbourne Prize were founded by Executive Director, Simon Warrender. Committee for Melbourne is a founding partner.
In its 20th year and being one of the most valuable arts prizes of its kind in Australia, the annual Melbourne Prize operates in a three-year cycle, including the Melbourne Prize for Literature & Awards (2024), the Melbourne Prize for Music & Awards (2025) and Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture & Awards (2026).
Since inception, the annual Melbourne Prize has made available more than $2.5 million in prizes, residencies, equipment grants and an annual public exhibition at Fed Square to Victorian writers, sculptors and musicians.
The origins of the Melbourne Prize Trust date back to The Magic Pudding sculpture commission and CBD-based children's garden concept at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne – an initiative of Simon Warrender implemented in 1998 through Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group.
Thank you to our Partners and Patrons:
The Vera Moore Foundation is acknowledged and thanked for their most generous support as Major Patron and partner of the
Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024 & Awards.
Thank you to our Founding Partners Playground Studio, Committee for Melbourne, MinterEllison and EY.
The visual identity and design for this year’s Prize is the creation of leading Melbourne design studio and Founding & Creative Identity Partner, Playground. Thank you to CEO Sally Dobell, office manager Kim Hankin and the studio, one and all, for the generous partnership and for providing the head office of the Trust.
We acknowledge and thank The Robert Salzer Foundation as the sole patron of The Writer’s Prize, along with meanjin and Falls Creek Alpine Resort for supporting the new Falls Creek Writers Residency, along with Readings. Thank you to Hardie Grant Books for supporting the Civic Choice Award 2024.
Thank you to this year’s patrons Diana Gibson AO, The Yulgilbar Foundation, Bill Kirk & Janine Kirk AO, Lindy M Shelmerdine and David K H Moffatt and The Scanlon Foundation.
Thank you to Corporate Partners Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, the Hotel for the Arts and Grant Thornton and Jamison Alliott for professional services.
The Melbourne Prize Trust is proud to have the Victorian Government, through Creative Victoria and the City of Melbourne Awards - Arts Excellence Program, as Government Partners.
Fed Square is the Finalist Fee and Foundation Events Partner and ‘home’ of the annual Melbourne Prize. Their generous support from inception is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Kine Graffiti for the videography for the finalist interview and to Jess Middleton for event photography.
Thank you to 360Q as our catering partner and Evan Evans for providing the exhibition banners and signage.
Thank you to The Mighty Wonton for our IT support and website development and Royce for media services. Thank you to our
Print Partners Ellikon, Spicers and Rothfield and Nyora Studio Gallery for hand-crafting the presentation trophy this year. The Melbourne Prize Trust is proud to have Kutcha Edwards as its Cultural Advisor.
Past recipients of the Melbourne Prize for Literature
2021 – Christos Tsiolkas
2018 - Alison Lester
2015 - Prof. Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM 2012 - Alex Miller
2009 - Gerald Murnane
2006 - Helen Garner
Past recipients of the Professional Development Award
2021 – Evelyn Araluen
Past recipients of the Best Writing Award
2018 - Maria Turmakin, Axiomatic (Penguin, 2021)
2015 - Andrea Goldsmith, Memory Trap (4th Estate, 2013)
2012 - Craig Sherborne, The Amateur Science of Love (Text, 2011) 2009 - Nam Le, The Boat (Penguin, 2008)
2006 - Christos Tsiolkas, Dead Europe (Random House, 2006)
Past recipients of The Writers Prize
2021 – Eloise Victoria Grills
Past recipients Readings Residency Award
2018 - Jamie Marie Lau
Past recipients of the Civic Choice Award
2021 – Maxine Beneba Clark
2018 - Louise Milligan, Cardinal (MUP, 2017)
2015 - Robyn Annear, Place Without Poetry (Essay, 2015)
2012 - Tony Birch, Blood (UQP, 2011)
2009 - Amra Pajalic, The Good Daughter (Text, 2009)
2006 - Henry von Doussa, The Park Bench (Thompson Walker, 2006)
Past recipient The Writer’s Prize 2015
2015 - Kate Ryan, Psychotherapy for Normal People (2015)
Thank you to our 2024 Partners and Patrons. Design by Playground
Key Facts:
· The winner of the prestigious $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Literature has been announced at Fed Square this evening.
· The winner, Alexis Wright, has made an outstanding contribution to Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life.
· Four winners have also been announced in other prize categories.
· This year marks 20 years of the annual Melbourne Prize.
· The Prize was judged by three esteemed literary sector professionals.
Contact details:
ADI STEVENS | ROYCE
M 0407 411 088
