AUSTRALIA’S MOST RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR EMERGING WRITERS (AGES 18-26).
Backbone Youth Arts is collaborating with Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) to deliver their Fresh Ink program in Meanjin. ATYP’s celebrated Fresh Ink National Mentoring Program for emerging writers runs annually from April–December in selected states across Australia. The initiative has been running for 16 years in varying forms and engages industry professionals to mentor our young writers. To date, the program has supported 151 writers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
In 2024 there will be four emerging writers for performance (aged 18-26) from each participating state. Throughout the year they will produce two short works for the stage as well as attend regular meetings with their mentor to hone their skills and build their writing community.
Read more about the program below.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 FRESH INK PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED.
BRISBANE MENTOR
LEWIS TRESTON
Lewis Treston is a multi-award-winning playwright from Queensland whose work has been produced by Sydney Theatre Company, La Boite, ATYP, NIDA and independently. Full-length plays include: IRL, Hubris & Humiliation, An Ideal Husband, Follow Me Home, Meat Eater, Hot Tub, and Reagan Kelly. Short plays include: A Windy Day at the Beach, Condo Osaka, Ghost Hunter, and The Arcade. He is a graduate from QUT and NIDA and is currently a PhD candidate at UQ. For more information: www.lewistreston.com
2024 PROGRAM
Throughout the program participants will
Attend a pre-arranged workshop session at least once a month between April and December with their mentor for 6 hours (or equivalent) to develop craft and skills.
Deliver a 15-minute play in July that will be rehearsed and performed by a professional director and actors for an invited audience.
Deliver a 30-minute play in November that will be rehearsed and performed by a professional director and actors for an invited audience.
To be eligible for the program
Writers must be aged 18–26 years old at the time of application.
Writers should have some experience in the past with writing for performance (may include work for stage and/or screen, poetry, audio work, devised work, etc.).
Writers must be available to meet the time commitments (briefly outlined above) between April and December 2024, including both attending meetings (in-person) and having the capacity to write material between meetings.
We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people from Disabled and d/Deaf communities, and people from LGBTQIA+ communities.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are to be submitted through the linked application form. To complete this, you will need:
CV/Resume (maximum 2 pages) as a PDF file, detailing any writing, theatre or creative arts experience, including any study.
A writing sample (maximum 3 pages) as a PDF file. This can be from an existing script and can be an excerpt or whole scene, or if you are new to theatre writing you can provide a sample of other writing (screen, poetry, audio work etc).
COST
There are no fees to participating in the Brisbane Fresh Ink program as Backbone Youth Arts is offering 4 scholarships valued at $3000 each.
KEY DATES
Mon 11 March 2024: Applications due by 11am (Brisbane Time)
Thurs 28 March 2024: Applicants notified of outcome
April – December 2024: Fresh Ink meetings and readings (exact dates times and dates TBC)
Fresh Ink (Brisbane) has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, it’s arts funding and advisory body.
Backbone is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Backbone Youth Arts is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council.