Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship

Beatrice Davis
© Penguin Books

Government, Industry and Individual Support enables the Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship to stand as a globally unique award in its recognition for excellence in editing in Australia.

Named after the distinguished literary editor and honouring her contribution to Australian letters, the Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship, awarded biennially, is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Matching support comes from the Australian Publishers Association, publishing companies both large and small, The Institute of Professional Editors and individual donations, indicating clearly the breadth and passion that exists to develop, maintain and nourish standards of excellence in editing in Australia.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Fellowship 2013/2104

Application period starts: 4 February 2013
Closing date: 5 April 2013
Interviews: 8 / 9 May 2013
Guidelines with Application Form

In 2013/2014, The Beatrice Davis Editorial Fellowship is sponsored by:
The Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts; The Australian Publishers Association; Allen & Unwin; HarperCollins Publishers Australia; Random House Australia; Penguin Group Australia; Hardie Grant Books; The Text Publishing Company; The Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd); Bryony Cosgrove (BDEF 1996); University of Queensland Press (UQP); NewSouth Publishing; Scribe Publications; Spinifex Press; Finch Publishing; Wild Dog Books; Richard Smart Publishing.

PLEASE NOTE: The experience of previous applicants leads us to advise that plenty of time is allowed to complete the application.

Why is the Fellowship important?

It provides a unique opportunity for cultural leadership in the field of editing and is designed to be of benefit both to the recipient and to the Australian publishing industry.
It is the highest national recognition and reward for the contribution editors make to Australian writing and publishing.
It familiarises Australian editors with the practices of one of the largest book publishing markets in the English speaking world.
It embodies the concept of professional development and sharing of information

Alexandra Nahlous (BDEF 2009/2010) offers these thoughts:

The Beatrice Davis Fellowship is something I have always aspired to win. I hope that Australian editors will always have the fellowship to look forward to because, whether you think of it as an award or a training opportunity, its worth is inestimable.

The value of the fellowship is immeasurable to the fellows, least of all because it affords them a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge and expertise as editors; but more than this, it is also tremendously valuable to the entire Australian publishing industry. Every single fellow throughout the years has contributed enormously to enriching the industry, whether in the giving of their wisdom and know-how as freelance or in-house editors, or in the discovery and development of extraordinary Australian writing talent as commissioning editors and publishers.