Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency

The Fulbright Creative-New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency enables a New Zealand writer of Pacific heritage to work for three months on a creative writing project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history at the University of Hawai'i.

The award was set up by the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand in partnership with Fulbright New Zealand in 2004, to provide this unique opportunity. The residency will run from mid-August to mid-November each year, with the recipient based at the Centre of Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai'i.

Hawai’i has been identified as a strategic location for artists and is considered the hub of Pacific writing with numerous universities, library resources, networks, writers’ forums and publishers. It is also an important link to the mainland US and has a strong indigenous culture.

Eligibility

One award is offered each year.

To be eligible, you must:

• be a New Zealand writer of Pacific heritage whose work explores Pacific identity, culture or history
• have already had at least two works published, accepted for publication, performed or screened
• have a specific project on which you propose to work on during the residency. The project may be in any genre, but bearing in mind that Creative New Zealand is an arts council focussed on developing literary arts rather than all works of authorship. Priority is given to fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction (including biography, history, arts-related and cultural topics), playwriting and screenwriting
• have a strong track record in literary arts and be able to present well to overseas contacts and representatives, given that there are ambassadorial aspects to the residency
• not have held another Fulbright award in the past two years, and otherwise comply with the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board's policy on Previous Fulbright Grants
• meet the citizenship requirements for this award:

Citizenship requirements

• are a New Zealand citizen
• AND are currently living in New Zealand
• AND are not a permanent resident or citizen of the US

Entitlement

• travel costs of NZ$3,000 for a return economy airfare to Hawai’i
• rental accommodation costs of NZ$3,000 per month
• stipend of NZ$6,000 per month
• basic health and accident insurance cover up to US$100,000

The duration of the award will be a maximum of three months.

Award conditions

If selected for an award, you will be required to undertake a full medical examination.

US immigration documentation must be completed from within New Zealand.

International travel will only be funded between New Zealand and Hawai’i.

When in Hawai’i you will be expected to:

• develop ideas in cross-fertilisation with residents of other cultures
• carry out lectures and interviews and make contact with suitable agents and publishers
• enhance the profile and development of New Zealand Pacific literature
• develop and extend professional links with Hawaiian writers and literary networks

On returning from Hawai’i you will be expected to have completed, or substantially completed, a body of writing and should be able to demonstrate other tangible benefits to New Zealand Pacific literature.

A final and signed report, using the standard Creative New Zealand format, should be provided within six weeks of completion of the residency. This report will be an important resource for Creative New Zealand and will help to build a picture of what is being achieved over time through similar initiatives. A separate report should be submitted to Fulbright New Zealand.

In keeping with US immigration requirements and the philosophy of the Fulbright Programme, you will be required to return to New Zealand for a minimum of two years before becoming eligible for permanent residency in the US.

Fulbright orientation

It was Senator J William Fulbright's mission to build peace through the mutual understanding of cultures. Fulbright applicants and grantees are expected to understand and support this mission.

Application process

• complete the application form below and send it to Creative New Zealand by the deadline
• attach two references, a literary curriculum vitae (no more than 12 pages), and up to 10 pages of work in progress or an example of published work
• interviews will be held in Wellington in May
• you will be advised of the outcome of your application by mid-June
  

Application form

cnzhawaii-appl2009.doc (626kB)

Further information

For further information about the Fulbright Creative-New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency, contact our Programme and Advising Team Leader.

Fulbright New Zealand has Campus Advisers stationed on all major New Zealand campuses. Our Advisers are all Fulbright alumni who are available to discuss their exchange experiences with students and staff, as well as to give basic information about our awards.