Creative New Zealand opportunities for writers Creative New Zealand is currently calling for applications for several exciting opportunities for writers for 2015 and 2016.  Please share these with your contacts and note the dates as applications close soon.   Michael King Writers Fellowship  The Michael King Writers Fellowship 2015 is valued at $100,000 and is open to established New Zealand writers. The fellowship will be awarded for a significant project that will take two years or more to complete and is open to authors of any literary genre who have already published a significant body of work. The fellowship was offered for the first time in 2003, and was renamed in recognition of the late Dr Michael King for his contribution to literature and his role in advocating for a major fellowship for New Zealand writers. Previous recipients of the fellowship are Owen Marshall, Vincent O’Sullivan, C.K. Stead, Rachel Barrowman, Neville Peat, Dame Fiona Kidman, Philip Simpson, Kate De Goldi, Peter Wells, Dr Peter Simpson, Fiona Farrell and Elizabeth Knox. Applications must be received by Friday 6 March 2015.  Read more.   Berlin Writers Residency  The biennial Berlin Writers Residency will be offered in Berlin, Germany in 2015 and 2016. The residency is for a period of up to eleven months, starting after 1 November 2015 and finishing no later than 30 September 2016. The opportunity is open to New Zealand writers only. It provides a unique opportunity for a New Zealand writer to live and work in Berlin. A stipend of NZD$40,000 is offered to cover travel to Berlin, insurance and living costs. Creative New Zealand provides a one bedroom, 60sqm apartment in the district of Friedrichshain in former East Berlin, which has a reputation as a lively and dynamic district. The apartment is close to the last standing section of the Berlin wall. The primary aim of the Berlin Writers Residency is for the successful applicant to work on an approved project while in a new environment. On returning, the successful applicant will be expected to have completed, or substantially completed, a body of writing. In addition, transporting the artist to a different environment is expected to have many other benefits including developing the potential of an artist through exposure to new cultures and new ideas. Ideally, the residency will also result in an increased awareness in Berlin of New Zealand literature. Previous recipients have been: Sarah Quigley; Tina Shaw; Kapka Kassabova; Philip Temple; Tim Corballis, Lloyd Jones, James McNeish, Kate Camp and Ian Wedde. Applications must be received by Friday 6 March 2015. Read more.   Louis Johnson New Writers Bursary  The annual Louis Johnson New Writers Bursary provides an opportunity for published writers at an early stage of their career, having had one work published already. Emerging writer applicants in the March 2015 Arts Grant round are automatically considered for this bursary. The amount/offer for this funding opportunity is variable depending on the project. The next round closes on Friday 6 March 2015. Read more.   Prime Ministers Awards for Literary Achievement 2015 - nominations invited  These awards recognise notable literary achievement and are offered to writers who have made a significant contribution to New Zealand literature. Worth $60,000, the awards are given to three writers each year, in the categories of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Individuals and organisations are invited to nominate writers for the awards.  Find out more about making a nomination. Before making your nomination you can check previous award winners. Nominations close on Friday 1 May 2015 For further information on these opportunities Contact Jill Rawnsley Senior Arts Adviser (Literature) on (09) 377 3077 or at jill.rawnsley@creativenz.govt.nz