Fogarty Foundation Increases Support for WA’s Young Writers by 73%
When launching A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson and Jasper Cliff by Josh Kemp, Annie Fogarty AM took the opportunity to announce a substantial uplift in funding for the State’s premier young writer’s award. Inaugurated in 2019, the Fogarty Literary Award for young Western Australian writers quickly established itself as a major supporter of our local stories and the next generation of writers who tell them.
The biennial award provides the winner with a cash prize of $20,000, a publishing contract with Fremantle Press, funding for regional author tours and a Centre for Stories Fellowship. The additional funding increase of 73% recognises the important work Fremantle Press does in publishing and promoting both the winners and shortlisters, with money set aside to boost touring and marketing prospects for books by published the entire community of Fogarty alumni.
Annie Fogarty said the Fogarty Foundation believes in creating multiple opportunities and pathways for Western Australian young people to realise their potential. Annie said, ‘Thirteen books have been published since the Award commenced, with some authors going on to win major national awards. The Fogarty Literary Award gives the next generation of leading Western Australian authors – those who deeply understand our unique culture and lived experience – the extra support they need to write stories about us, and for us.’
Reacting to the announcement on stage, all three Fogarty Literary Award writers spoke warmly about how the Award had given them much needed confidence at crucial stages of their careers. Launch host and 2021 winner Brooke Dunnell (The Glass House, Last Best Chance) praised the additional resources, saying it would enable Fremantle Press to help more authors realise their dreams. Brooke said, ‘Fremantle Press authors already feel like a team, and this will strengthen that feeling as well as improve the prospects for younger writers in Western Australia. We are so, so grateful to the Fogarty Foundation for their commitment.’
A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson and Jasper Cliff by Josh Kemp were launched by Annie Fogarty at the Literature Centre on Thursday 5 September. Both books were shortlisted for the 2023 Fogarty Literary Award and are outstanding and unique novels in the Australian Gothic tradition.
