Applications open for prestigious literary prize

MEDIA RELEASE: CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND & NEW ZEALAND POST

For Immediate Release

Date: 21 April 2008

Applications open for prestigious literary prize - the New Zealand Post Mansfield Prize 2009

Established and mid-career New Zealand creative writers are invited to apply for the New Zealand Post Mansfield Prize 2009.

The New Zealand Post Mansfield Prize, previously known as The Katherine Mansfield Fellowship, is one of New Zealand’s longest-standing and most prestigious literary prizes.

The prize offers a six month residency in Menton, France and enables a New Zealand author to work at the Villa Isola Bella where Katherine Mansfield lived and wrote during the latter part of her life. On becoming the sponsor last year, New Zealand Post also increased the prize significantly to $100,000, making this the most valuable New Zealand international writers’ residency programme.

The initiative is a partnership between the Winn-Manson Menton Trust and New Zealand Post and is administered by Creative New Zealand.

Previous recipients include: Janet Frame, Lloyd Jones, Witi Ihimaera, Vincent O'Sullivan, Bill Manhire, Ian Wedde, Dame Fiona Kidman, Stuart Hoar and Damien Wilkins.

Official guidelines and an application form are available on Creative New Zealand’s website: http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/files/NZ-Post-Mansfield-Prize-2009-guidelines.pdf

Applications should be submitted to Creative New Zealand with a covering letter, a written proposal of the work to be undertaken in Menton and a CV of published works and associated literary activities. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 27 June 2008.

For application information please contact Felicity Birch, Programme Administrator on felicityb[at]creativenz.govt.nz

ENDS

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