Entries open for the Tasmanian Literary Awards 2027

Entries are now open for the Tasmanian Literary Awards 2027, which celebrate excellence in the Tasmanian literary sector.

Minister for Arts, Roger Jaensch, said the awards recognised the outstanding work of Tasmanian writers and storytellers.

"Tasmania has a proud literary tradition, and these awards continue to raise the profile of our authors and celebrate the strength of our state's writing community," Minister Jaensch said.

"The awards showcase outstanding writing across a range of genres while helping emerging and young writers build their careers and develop their craft.

"Whether you've published a book, written for stage or screen, or are preparing your first major work, I encourage you to consider entering.

"As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we are committed to backing our creative sector and ensuring Tasmanian stories continue to be shared and celebrated."

The 2027 awards will include eight categories for both established and emerging writers, with the prize money totalling $150,000.

This year, a new $25,000 prize for screen or stage writing has been named in memory of Tasmanian filmmaker Roger Scholes.

Roger Scholes (1950–2022) was a distinguished Australian independent filmmaker whose career spanned more than four decades across drama, documentary and cinematography.

His acclaimed feature film The Tale of Ruby Rose (1987), shot in the remote Walls of Jerusalem, earned four critics’ prizes at the Venice Film Festival.

He founded Edward Street Films with his wife Katherine Scholes in 1988, producing documentaries deeply rooted in Tasmanian themes.

Katherine said her husband was a passionate storyteller.

“All of his films, whether drama or documentary, were founded on the art of writing. It was a skill he valued highly and worked hard to perfect,” Katherine said.

“He was also an inspiring teacher and mentor, keen to support other artists in their own quests. I know he would have felt deeply honoured by this prize, and excited about the encouragement and opportunities it will offer recipients for many years to come.”

This year’s categories are:

• Premier’s Prize for Fiction ($25,000) – For the best work of fiction by a Tasmanian writer (including short stories)
• Premier’s Prize for Non-fiction ($25,000) – For the best work of non-fiction by a Tasmanian writer
• Minister for Arts’ Prize for Books for Young Readers and Children ($25,000) – For a published work written for children and young adults in any genre
• Tim Thorne Prize for Poetry ($25,000) – For a published book of poetry by a Tasmanian writer
• Roger Scholes Prize for Writing for Stage or Screen ($25,000) – For the best original work produced for stage or screen (including narrative video games) by a Tasmanian writer
• University of Tasmania Prize ($10,000) – For the best new unpublished literary work by an emerging Tasmanian writer, supported by the University of Tasmania
• Aboriginal Writer’s Fellowship ($10,000) – Awarded to a First Nations writer
• Margaret Scott Young Writer’s Fellowship ($5,000) – Awarded to a young Tasmanian writer (aged 30 years and under)

The People’s Choice Awards will also open for voting once the shortlists are announced in March 2027.

Entries for all prizes close 17 August 2026 and entries for the fellowships close on 7 September 2026.

The winners will be announced mid-2027.

For more information about the awards, as well as the full details of the 2027 prizes, visit www.arts.tas.gov.au/tasliteraryawards