Emerging Writers Fellowship: Call for Applications due 5 May 2023
Southeast of Now: Directions in Contemporary and Modern Art in Asia remains committed to supporting the development of new writing in the region, and to providing opportunities for emerging writers to develop their research and writing skills, and to engage with a broad readership in a special section of the journal. We are pleased to announce a new Call for Applications for our donor-funded mentorship program. Applications should be sent to [email protected] no later than 5 May 2023.
Past recipients of the Emerging Writers Fellowship whose work has been published in Southeast of Now include Syaheedah Iskandar, Umi Lestari, Hera, Pristine L. De Leon, Ariana Chaivaranon, and Myint Myat Thu.
Emerging writers (with no more than three years of publishing experience), who are citizens or permanent residents of any country in Southeast Asia, are invited to apply for the Emerging Writers Fellowship. Successful applicants will be awarded the following:
- A grant of up to USD 1,000, to facilitate in-depth research and writing for a period of up to 12 months.
- Mentorship by one leading arts writer and one leading international curator, usually based in Southeast Asia. Successful applicants will be matched with appropriate mentors by the selection committee.
- Editing and advice from the Southeast of Now editorial collective.
- Publication of selected essays (of between 3,000 and 5,000 words in English) in Southeast of Now, in a special Emerging Writers Fellowship section, to appear both in print and online.
Applications should consist of one single PDF document which includes the following:
- A cover letter of no more than one page, explaining your reason for applying.
- A proposal of between one and two pages, outlining the topic you wish to research and write on. Topics may encompass the modern and contemporary art, broadly conceived, of any location/s in Southeast Asia. Topics may be monographic in focus, or take a comparative approach. As in all sections of Southeast of Now, we encourage an historically informed approach to any topic. Proposals should include a short bibliography on your chosen topic, as well as a research plan comprising a list of research materials you plan to consult (such as institutional and/or personal archives, collections, also interviews you would like to conduct, and so on), and a budget breakdown of how you propose to spend the grant funds of up to USD 1,000.
- A CV of no more than two pages, including a list of previous publications, if any.
- A sample of your writing, of either published or unpublished material.
- A short statement of financial need.
The terms of the Fellowship are as follows: A selection committee, comprising the editorial collective of Southeast of Now as well as our donors will assess all applications and will award up to two Fellowships. Successful applicants must complete their research and writing within a period of 12 months, and will consult regularly with their mentors throughout this process. Fifty per cent of the grant will be paid upon commencement of the writing, with the remainder to be paid upon submission of a completed draft of between 3,000 and 5,000 words, deemed publishable by the journal’s editorial collective. Texts deemed suitable for publication will appear in Southeast of Now in print and online.
The Emerging Writers Fellowship is made possible thanks to the generosity of our anonymous donors, as well as our gracious mentors. Inquiries may be sent to [email protected]. Applications are due no later than 5 May 2023.