2022-2023 Emerging Writers Program
The South Coast Writers Centre is excited to announce our full 2022-2023 Emerging Writers Program!
Made possible by funding from the Australia Council’s RISE program, the SCWC Emerging Writers Program will recruit talented emerging South Coast writers to work one-on-one with writing mentors to deepen their writing skills, develop new work, publish and present it to local audiences, over 2022 and 2023.
Under the umbrella program of the Emerging Writers Program are multiple streams of mentoring. These streams allow the program to offer specific focus on some writing genres, as well as recognising that some communities have higher support needs. The Emerging Writers mentoring program offers additional support to writers in any genre who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, are from a refugee background, have a disability, or are young people (aged 18-25). These writers are connected with an experienced mentor, from whom they will receive one-on-one support and referrals to relevant writing groups and workshops. Mentors will also assist them to develop relevant peer relationships and connections within the field, and connect them with subsidised workshops and events that provide professional industry knowledge.
The mentoring program for young writers aged 18-25 is called the Young Writers Collective. It is a continuation of a successful existing program and is led by mentor Helena Fox, recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Young Adult Fiction. The Young Writers Collective currently has twenty members. In 2021, they produced an anthology of writing called Uncommon Words that was launched at Wollongong Art Gallery as part of the South Coast Writers Festival.
Our Emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writers Program extends and develops upon our 2021 program and continues to be led by mentor Judi Morison, recipient of Writing NSW’s Boundless Indigenous Writers award. This program is additionally supported by Merrigong Theatre Company.
Merrigong Theatre Company have also partnered with SCWC on the nine-month long SCWC/Merrigong Playwrights Development Program which began in February, and is led by Tom Peach, president of Stanwell Park Arts Theatre.
The Emerging Refugee Writers Program is run in partnership with Illawarra Multicultural Services. SCWC have been working closely with IMS on writing competitions for their communities over the last two years, and this program will extend further support to the talented writers in these communities and will assist them to tell and publish their stories.
Mentee applications are opening soon!