Announcing Poetry Prize Longlist
The eagerly awaited return of the Whitsundays Writers Festival in September 2024 offers an exciting opportunity for writers, poets, and book cover designers across Australia.
In a bold initiative, the Festival launched earlier this year the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, offering substantial cash prizes to recognise and honour outstanding contributions to the literary and design landscape.
The Heart Awards’ mission is to spotlight the diverse talents within the Australian creative community while also paying homage to the captivating Heart Reef—a natural wonder found in the Whitsundays region.
Festival President Karen Jacobsen expressed enthusiasm for the awards program, “poetry is one of the most accessible forms of expression in the arts. Through the Heart Awards, we have been thrilled to provide seasoned poets through to budding wordsmiths the opportunity to celebrate verse and voice in our Poetry Prize.”
The Heart Award Poetry Prize offers a first prize of $1,000 and $500 for the runner up. The award sought submissions from around Australia of up to 50-lines of unpublished poems.
We are delighted to announce the longlisted submissions for the 2024 Poetry Prize:
- Beyond the Masts, Andrew Leggett (Qld)
- Just Another Masterpiece: after Richard Diebenkorn, Bonney Bombach (Qld)
- Pirates of the Andaman, Paris Rosemont (NSW)
- Senseless, Hellier Mason (Qld)
- Theatre Conjectures, David Atkinson (NSW)
- Verandah, David Atkinson (NSW)
Our judging panel have diligently reviewed blind submissions (all author information removed) for the Poetry Prize against five selection criteria of originality, poetic technique, language and style, thematic depth, and overall impact.
The longlist submissions are currently under further consideration. From the longlist, a final shortlist will be selected, and winners announced on Saturday 7 September 2024 at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
Poetry enthusiasts at the Festival can also showcase their lyrical prowess at a special ‘karaoke style’ event on Friday 6 September where attendees can step up to the mic and share their verses in an intimate and supportive atmosphere.
“We are delighted to provide a platform for poets to share their work and connect with fellow lovers of language,” says Festival President, Karen Jacobsen. “The Heart Awards’ Poetry Prize and our Friday poetry event embody the spirit of creativity and community that defines the Whitsundays Writers Festival.”
The Festival is grateful for the generous support by the major venue partner the Whitsunday Sailing Club in hosting this year’s event.