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The State Library, together with the South Australian Government, is pleased to host the 2022 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature.

The awards offer a total prize pool of $167,500 across six national and five South Australian categories, including the coveted Premier’s Award worth $25,000 for the overall winner.

Nominations are closing soon!

Closing date for submissions is 5pm, Wednesday 30 June 2021.

Due to the large numbers of nominations expected, nominators are strongly encouraged to submit their entries well in advance of the closing date.

Download the guidelines

Please refer to the following guidelines to ensure you meet the criteria for each award category.

Register to nominate

This year you have the option to fill in an online form or download a PDF version, visit the following award pages for further details:

National Awards for Published Works

Jill Blewett Playwright's Award

Arts South Australia Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award

Fellowships for South Australian Writers

Prepare your nomination pack

Full details of award submissions are available on the forms, but as an overview, depending on the award, you will need to submit the following:

National Awards for Published Works: 

  • 4 print copies of the published work.

Jill Blewett Playwright's Award: 

  • 4 copies of all documents including:
  •  the nominated play, 
  • 1 page synopsis of the play outline, and
  •  CV or biography.

Arts South Australia Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award:  

Your nomination to include 4 copies of manuscript and synopsis consisting of

  • 1 copy marked with writer's name of:
  • the manuscript and
  • a one page synopsis; and 
  • 3 anonymous copies of:
  • the manuscript and
  • a one page synopsis.

Fellowships for South Australian Writers: 

  • 4 copies of all documents:
  • activities outline, 
  • synopsis, and 
  • CV or biography.

Send in your pack

Send via post your nomination pack to:

AFAL Project Officer
State Library of South Australia
GPO Box 419
Adelaide SA 5001

Your nomination is only valid once it has been physically received at the State Library of South Australia and you receive official confirmation from us. Please allow up to a month for official confirmation.

 

2022 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature prizes

Premier's Award $25,000 for the best overall published work, chosen from the winners of the five national categories.
Children's Literature Award $15,000 for a published fiction or non-fiction book aimed at readers up to 11 years.
Fiction Award $15,000 for a published novel or collection of short stories.
Young Adult Fiction Award $15,000 for a published book of fiction aimed at readers aged 12 to 18 years.
Non-Fiction Award $15,000 for a published non-fiction work.
John Bray Poetry Award $15,000 for a published collection of poetry, in honour of late South Australian poet Dr John Bray.
Jill Blewett Playwright's Award $12,500 for an un-produced play of any genre written by a professional South Australian playwright. Supported by State Theatre Company South Australia.
Arts South Australia Wakefield Press Unpublished Manuscript Award $10,000 plus publication by Wakefield Press for an unpublished, book-length manuscript by a South Australian writer.
Max Fatchen Fellowship $15,000 for a South Australian writer for young people working in the genres of fiction, drama, poetry or screenwriting, named in honour of author Max Fatchen.
Barbara Hanrahan Fellowship $15,000 for a South Australian writer working in the areas of fiction, poetry, drama, scriptwriting, autobiography, essays, major histories, literary criticism or other expository or analytical prose. Named in honour of distinguished South Australian writer and visual artist Barbara Hanrahan.
Tangkanungku Pintyanthi Fellowship $15,000 for a South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writer working in the genres of fiction, literary, non-fiction, poetry and playwriting.

Contact Us

If you have any queries please contact:

AFAL Project Officer
Phone: (08) 8207 7258
Email: slsa.afal@sa.gov.au