Overview
Annual Prize. Entries open (now closed): Mon 5 Aug – Tues 10 Sept 2024
Awarded since 2015, the Arts Queensland XYZ Prize is committed to recognising and celebrating excellence and innovation in Australian performance poetry and spoken word.
The Prize, as part of the Arts Queensland Poetry Awards, is administered by Queensland Writers Centre and supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Publication Partner
QWC will publish the Winner and Runner-Up online.
Prize
Winner: $1,250 + publication contract
Runner-Up: $500 + publication contract
Shortlist: One Year Membership with QWC
An opportunity for development in an online workshop is included for all Entrants.
What to Submit
Submit a link to a recording of spoken word or performance poetry up to 3 minutes in length, in audio or video format. Please include a transcript to the following suggested formatting.
Submit as an unrestricted Word document (.docx) or PDF file. Please do not include your name or identifying details on any portion of the submission.
12pt Times New Roman or Arial font
1.5 line spacing
1” or 3cm margins on an A4 page
Include page numbers
Previous winners
Manna Marvel, Benjamin Wild, Quinn Eades, Anisa Nandaula, Fable Goldsmith, Eloise Grills / Jasmine Roberson, Megan J. Riedl, Dan Hogan.
Submission guidelines
Entries are accepted only via the online Entry Form. By making a submission Entrants acknowledge to have read and understood the Submission Guidelines.
Entrants should submit their own original work.
Performances may be of any genre or style.
Entrants should be Australian citizens or currently resident in Australia.
Entrants to the Prize may be published or unpublished writers and poets.
Entrants under 18 years are eligible but should contact QWC prior to entering, and will require permission from a guardian.
Entries should not have been previously published in a recorded format, and poetry included in the submission should not be on offer for publication elsewhere. Material included in the recording may be previously published in a written format (i.e. in a journal) provided the Entrant holds the requisite rights to perform and republish it in a recorded format.
Entries do not need to be broadcast quality or include sound or video production. Entrants may edit the recording or include additional sounds or music provided the majority focus of the Entry remains on the spoken word. (The Entrant must hold the rights to use all elements included in the submission.)
Multiple submissions are permitted but limited to five total. Each submission requires a separate Entry and fee.
For co-authored Entries, please contact QWC prior to making a submission.
Entrants grant first right of refusal on the publication of the recording to QWC for an exclusive period of up to 12 weeks following public announcements if selected as Winner or Runner-Up. Further contractual arrangements will be made directly. QWC otherwise reserves no rights over works submitted to the Awards; Entrants retain copyright at all times.
Where there is Indigenous content or participation in the work, Entrants should comply with Creative Australia’s Protocols for using First Nations Intellectual and Cultural Property.
Discounted entry fees are available to all concession card holders (including students, seniors and pensioners) and current members of state writers’ centres in the National Writers’ Centre Network, including QWC.
Entries will be subject to a rigorous assessment process with review by QWC team members, trained Readers and two experienced guest Judges, including an anonymous judging process insofar as is feasibly possible given the format.
Feedback is not provided to unsuccessful Entrants. No correspondence with Readers or Judges may be entered into.
Submissions will be disposed of securely up to nine months after QWC completes the selection process. QWC may record and keep other information provided on the Entry Form.
The awarding of a Winner, Runner-Up and Shortlist (of up to three writers) is to be at QWC’s discretion, and may depend on the quality and number of submissions received. In the event a Winner is not awarded, QWC may provide development opportunities (e.g. mentorship) to up to three highly-placed Entrants.
QWC does not guarantee the future publication of work submitted to the Awards.
QWC is committed to providing a relevant online development workshop, delivered by an industry professional, to all Entrants free of charge, regardless of submission outcome. QWC will endeavour to tailor the content of the session to address commonalities found across the cohort of submissions.
All writers will be personally notified of the outcome of their Entry prior to public announcements.
For assistance with your Entry, please contact QWC at admin@qldwriters.org.au or (07) 3842 9922.
These Submission Guidelines were developed and updated for the 2024 suite of Queensland’s poetry awards. QWC reserves the right to amend Guidelines for future Awards.