Each three years the Melbourne Prize cycles through its main categories of Urban Sculpture, Literature and Music. 2009 is the turn of Literature and entries for the prize are now open.
You might recall that in 2006 the main prize was won by Helen Garner, with Dead Europe by Christos Tsiolkas winning the Best Writing Award.
This year the judges have added a Civic Choice Award to the other two. This is an award that will be voted on by the general public after the accouncement of the Best Writing Award finalists. That announcement will take place on or about 8 November.
The judging panel for the two major awards consists of: Hilary McPhee, Brian Matthews and Mark Rubbo.
Criteria for the Melbourne Prize: "The Melbourne Prize for Literature 2009 is for a Victoian author whose body of published/produced work has made an outstanding contribution Australian literature and to cultural and intellectual life. The author's work can include all genres and forms for example, fiction, non-fiction, essays, plays, screenplays and poetry."
Criteria for the Best Writing Award: "The Best Writing Award 2009 is for a piece of published or produced work of outstanding clarity, originality and creativity by a Victorian writer, 40 years or under. The work can be any genre or form for example, fiction, non-fiction, esays, plays, screenplays and poetry."
