Redmond Barry Fellowship FAQs

Applications for all fellowships must be submitted online via the State Library Victoria’s SmartyGrants site.

Applications close at 9am Tuesday 7 April 2026.

Yes, collaborative projects of up to  two participants will be considered.

Yes, the SmartyGrants portal allows you to save progress on your application form and come back to it as many times as you like. When you’re ready, you can submit your form.

Please email fellows@slv.vic.gov.au with details of your issue and a member of of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.

No, late applications will not be accepted. The submission deadline is 9am on Tuesday 7 April 2026.

No, we are unable to provide feedback on individual submissions.

No, you can only apply for one Fellowship in the 2026–27 Fellowships round. Please select the category most suitable for your project idea.

Fellows have a 12-month residency period. During this time, there are certain requirements that will need to be met by successful applicants, as detailed in the fellowship guidelines. State Library Victoria understands that the outcome/s of fellowships can occur outside the 12-month residency period. We encourage fellowship alumni to keep in touch and let us know about future outcomes.

See fellowship guidelines for availability requirements linked to eligibility.

Fellowships can be undertaken at any time between 1 August 2026 – 30 June 2027.

Fellows can decide when and how often to use their office space, as long as it occurs within the 12-month period between August 2026 and June 2027.

You must complete your fellowship by 30 June 2027, but can request a later date for your final outcome if agreed with the Library.

Yes. You can access your space from 1 August 2026 – 30 June 2027.

Yes, but the fellowship program preferences projects that are not currently funded.

We recommend that fellows seek financial advice that considers their personal circumstances.

The Redmond Barry Fellowship recipient receives $15,000.

Fellowship funds can be spent on living expenses, travel expenses and any other reasonable expense to facilitate the completion of the fellowship. Note that fellows are paid in two instalments, half on commencement and half at the mid-way point of the fellowship.

Over a 12-month period, fellows are provided with:

• space in a shared office in the historic La Trobe Reading Room annulus
• access to expert curators, archivists and liaison Librarians at The University of Melbourne and the State Library of Victoria

Fellows are required to:

• deliver a mid‑term work‑in‑progress presentation or written report, and a final public‑facing outcome (find out more in our program guidelines)
• be available for internal and external media interviews
• contribute content to the Library’s internal and external channels to promote and showcase the program
• acknowledge the Library’s (and partner’s where appropriate) support and use approved Library branding in any publication or promotion of the fellowship project.

Any fellowship applications that have an Indigenous focus or Indigenous content have to show a connection to the Indigenous communities relevant to the project.

This could be in the form of either:

• a letter of support (from a member of the Indigenous community)
• a partnered or joint fellowship application.
• Observing and following cultural protocols is necessary to ensure the cultural integrity of a project.
• Once you have a letter of support, you’ll also need to talk to the Victorian Indigenous Research Centre at the Library before you apply. Make an appointment between Tuesday 3 March and Tuesday 31 March 2026 by contacting the VIRC Support Officer on 03 8664 7174 or by emailing the centre at virc@slv.vic.gov.au.

Applicants are encouraged to review the work of previous Redmond Barry fellows .

No, previous funded fellows are ineligible. However, previous unfunded Honorary Fellows can apply again for a funded fellowship.