The Imago Fellowship 2027, hosted by the State Library of New South Wales, offers emerging writers a rare opportunity to develop a major work of fiction or non-fiction. The successful fellow receives $50,000 and a residency at the State Library of NSW, along with access to its extensive collections and research materials to help shape and deepen their project. With access to the Library’s rich collections and archives, it offers a unique chance to deepen your research and bring a bold creative project to life.
Here are the details from the State Library’s website:
For research that engages deeply with the rich collections at the Library to produce a work of fiction or non-fiction.
Imago is Latin for ‘image’ and is used to refer to the last stage of an insect’s metamorphosis; imago (plural imagines), as the final step of growth and development is when insects gain their wings.
The Imago Fellowship, dedicated to supporting emerging creative writers, was established in 2024 with a generous endowment from an anonymous benefactor. An emerging writer is a writer who is yet to publish a full-length work, or who has had a debut full-length work published in the last five years (at the time of application).
$50,000 For creative writing, fiction or non-fiction across any genre, utilising the collections of the State Library of NSW.
It is expected that Imago Fellows will:
- be researchers and writers who are able to demonstrate a capacity – through experience, publications in any genre and/or training – to produce an original project, of high literary merit, that will contribute to important conversations on Australian cultural life and writing
- be able to demonstrate a high-level capacity to promote their work through a variety of media channels in collaboration with the Library
- agree that the Fellowship is a priority during their tenure and that a concentrated period of effort, in the one-year tenure, will be made to deliver the Fellowship
- attend a formal induction program on the second Monday of February
- actively promote the research and writing undertaken during their tenure
- make a presentation about the project at the conclusion of the Fellowship
- ensure any publications, outcomes or media coverage which result from the Fellowship prominently acknowledge the support of the Library and the Fellowship
- contribute to Library's print and online publications
- submit, to the Mitchell Librarian, a four-page summary of their completed project, copies of any research outcomes (presentations and publications) and a bibliography
- acquit their Fellowship in a timely manner.
FAQs
If I’m not currently employed as a researcher am I able to apply?
Yes. Many previous recipients of Fellowships have been early career researchers or independent scholars.
Do I need to be an Australian citizen or Australian resident?
No. You are, however, expected to engage with the collections at the State Library of NSW unless you are applying for the:
- Coral Thomas Fellowship
- Dr AM Hertzberg AO Fellowship
- Australian Religious History Fellowship.
In which case, you can draw on the Library’s and any other repository’s collections.
Can a team of researchers apply for a Fellowship?
No. The research projects must be undertaken by a single researcher.
Am I able to apply if I am currently enrolled in a tertiary course?
Yes. Your application, however, will need to provide evidence that you are an experienced researcher, the Fellowships are not scholarships designed to facilitate the completion of a course.
If you are completing a doctoral program, you should consider the workload of finalising a research higher degree and embarking on a new project at the same time.
Who is an emerging writer or early career researcher?
An emerging writer is a writer who is yet to publish a full-length work, or who has had a debut full-length work published in the last five years (at the time of application). An early career researcher is a researcher who has graduated with a PhD in the last five years (at the time of application), or who has been practising in their field for less than five years (at the time of application).
What is a full-length work?
A full-length work is a volume published in book or eBook form, of at least 60,000 words, for commercial sale by a single author (excluding edited collections). Some types of writing, such as poetry, might be shorter than 60,000 words but should still present as a book made available for commercial sale.
Who are the judges?
The judging panel comprises experienced scholars, including former Fellows. The Mitchell Librarian serves on all the judging panels.
What are the judges looking for?
- Well-structured, well-written applications
- evidence of your research experience, particularly experience with archival or special collections
- the collections being utilised and how the outputs will engage the Library’s audiences.
Applications close on Friday, 10 July 2026 at 5pm AEST.
To find out more and apply, head to the State Library of NSW’s website.
