If you think you've got what it takes to write, then apply now for one of the Restart Residential Retreat scholarships through Byron Writers Festival. Applications close at 5pm this Friday, March 19.

The Restart program is funded by Create NSW, who have granted Byron Writers Festival $185,000 to be dispersed to NSW writers, illustrators and creatives. This grant will be disbursed in residencies as well as free workshops for NSW writers and illustrators of all description.

Byron Writers Festival Director, Edwina Johnson said ‘The arts community has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic,’ she said ‘Our Restart program is a way to offer a broad-reaching rescue package that will help create new works and valuable professional experiences.’

The Restart program will begin with two residential retreats for NSW writers and illustrators, mentored by some of Australia’s most acclaimed writers.

Mentor for the Open Writers + Illustrators Residential Retreat, Ailsa Piper, said the Restart program offers genuine assistance and practical support of the best kind.

"It offers time and space to make and write. These are Precious gifts. I’ll be working with writers to make the Restart retreat nurturing, challenging, productive, rigorous and restorative," she said

"Oh, and did I mention it's fun?"

The program is overseen by experienced publishing industry professionals drawn from across the state. There will be a focus on First Nations writers and illustrators and artists of varied abilities, including artists with disabilities. 

Nor are our young writers and illustrators forgotten, with two writers-in-residence initiatives planned for local public schools. Award winning illustrator-writer Dub Leffler, and writer-singer Nardi Simpson, are both on board.

Leffler said Byron Writers Festival Restart extends the great work in schools done by the Byron Writers Festival StoryBoard program.

"Getting to work with kids over a whole term will be so rewarding. Restart supports lasting community involvement with storytelling and I can’t wait to get started," he said.

Indeed, funding body Create NSW are keen for this stimulus package to start as soon as possible, so Byron Writers Festival are working overtime to design and roll out more exciting workshops for their Restart Program. Watch this space for new announcements.

The competitive application process is available on the Byron Writers Festival website at http://www.byronwritersfestival.com/whats-on/restart-residential-retreats

Dub Leffler: writer-in-residence initiative for local public schools.