Michael King Writers Centre
 Aerial view of centre | |
| Named after | Michael King |
|---|---|
| Established | July 2005 |
| Legal status | Charitable trust |
| Purpose | Writers' centre |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 36°49′39″S 174°47′56″E / 36.82761801863462°S 174.79889597212275°E |
| Website | Official website |
The Michael King Writers Centre is a writing centre on the slope of Takarunga / Mount Victoria in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, which offers residencies to early career and experienced writers. It was established in 2005 in honour of New Zealand historian Michael King.
About the centre[edit]
The centre is based at the Signalman's House, a historic house built in 1898, on Takarunga / Mount Victoria in Devonport, Auckland.[1][2]
As of November 2022[update] the centre had hosted around 140 writers-in-residence.[3] Residencies are of short length to encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds.[3] As of 2024[update] residencies are offered for between two and three weeks,[4] although in the past they have been offered for as long as six months.[5] The centre also offers short-term accommodation for visiting writers on a paying basis.[6][7]
History[edit]
At the memorial service for historian and writer Michael King in 2004, Gordon McLauchlan suggested that a writers' centre in King's name should be set up.[8] The centre was established through a charitable trust; together with McLauchlan, founding trustees included Christine Cole Catley,[9] Witi Ihimaera and Geoff Chapple.[10]
The centre officially opened in July 2005.[2][3] The first writer-in-residence was Geoff Chapple.[11]
Between 2007 and 2020, University of Auckland residencies were offered at the centre, supported by Creative New Zealand, which required the writer to spend time at the university's English department.[12][13] In 2010 the centre began offering Māori writers' residencies, developed with the assistance of Witi Ihimaera.[14] In July 2011 the centre offered a free week's residency for four writers affected by the Christchurch earthquake.[15]
In 2014, in partnership with several organisations including the Shanghai Writers' Association, the centre began running an exchange whereby Chinese writers could undertake a residency at the centre and New Zealand writers could undertake a residency in Shanghai.[11] In 2021 the centre announced a new exchange programme with Varuna, The Writers' House in the Blue Mountains, Sydney.[16][17]
From 2008 to 2019 the centre offered a programme of workshops for young writers, and since 2012 has published a literary journal of students' work titled Signals.[18][19] The programme was put on hold in 2020, and the centre has instead run the Signals Awards for writers aged 16 to 21.[19][20][21]
Notable residents[edit]
Notable recipients of Michael King Writers Centre residencies have included:
- Rachel Barrowman (worked on biography of Maurice Gee, 2010)[22]
- Ann Beaglehole (2009)[23]
- Eleanor Catton (wrote the final draft of The Luminaries, 2012)[24]
- Geoff Chapple (first resident, 2005)[11]
- Gina Cole (established Pasifika writer-in-residence, 2021)[25]
- Dick Corballis (worked on biography of Bruce Mason, 2008)[26]
- Bill Direen (University of Auckland residency, 2010)[27]
- David Eggleton (wrote Time of the Icebergs poetry collection, 2009)[28]
- Chris Else (2012)[29]
- Tracy Farr (2009, 2018, 2021)[30][31]
- Karyn Hay (2018)[32]
- Whiti Hereaka (worked on play Rewena, 2012; finished draft of novel Kurangaituku, 2017)[33][34]
- Roger Horrocks (2015)[35]
- Anna Jackson (2017)[36]
- Jade Kake (emerging Māori writer-in-residence, 2019)[37]
- Anne Kennedy (University of Auckland residency, 2014)[38]
- Sarah Laing (worked on graphic novel about Katherine Mansfield, 2013; also 2008)[39]
- Colleen Maria Lenihan (emerging Māori writer-in-residence, worked on short story collection Kōhine, 2019)[40]
- Kirsten McDougall (2019)[41]
- Fiona McGregor (through New Zealand-Australia writers' residency exchange, 2023)[17]
- Frankie McMillan (University of Auckland residency, 2017)[42]
- Arthur Meek (wrote play about Mary Martin, 2011)[43]
- Kyle Mewburn (2021)[44]
- Kelly Ana Morey (Māori writer-in-residence, completed novel Daylight Second, 2014)[45]
- Vincent O'Sullivan (worked on biography of Ralph Hotere, 2009)[46]
- Lawrence Patchett (emerging writer-in-residence, 2018)[47]
- Joan Rosier-Jones (2008, 2010)[48]
- Maria Samuela (emerging Pasifika writer-in-residence, 2020)[49]
- Elspeth Sandys (2016)[50]
- Ian Wedde (wrote novel The Catastrophe, 2009)[51]
- Philippa Werry (2019)[52]
- Mere Whaanga (Māori writer-in-residence, 2015)[53]
References[edit]
- ^ "Once upon a time..." The New Zealand Herald. 10 August 2013. p. D6. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b "The week ahead". Sunday Star-Times. 17 July 2005. p. A11. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Chumko, André (26 November 2022). "The crucial luxury of the artist's residency". Stuff. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "About Our Residency Programme". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Michael King Writer's Centre – Residency Deadline". New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Writers Accommodation Bookings". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "NZ's national writer-residency organisation continues with an extended number of residencies in 2019". Creative New Zealand. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Writers' centre proposed to honour King". The New Zealand Herald. 19 April 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Michelle (7 August 2011). "Bright star of Kiwi writing battles wait". Sunday Star-Times. p. A9. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "The Michael King Writers Centre Trust". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Chanwai-Earle, Lynda (17 October 2016). "Kiwi writer returns to the Shanghai rain". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Writers in residence". The University of Auckland. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "The University of Auckland/Creative New Zealand Writer-in-Residence at the Michael King Writers' Centre 2011". Creative New Zealand. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "First Maori writer's residency at Michael King Writers' Centre". The Big Idea. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Gates, Charlie (21 July 2011). "Treat offered to writers suffering 'quake brain'". The Press. p. A6. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Michael King Writers Centre announces new international residency exchange opportunity with Varuna". Kete Books. 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ a b Magrin, Federico (8 May 2023). "Kiwi writer in shock after being selected for international residency". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Pollock, Kerryn (22 October 2014). "Michael King Young Writers Programme, 2009". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ a b "History of the MKWC Young Writers Programme". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Signals Young Writers Awards 2021". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Signals Young Writers Awards 2023". Michael King Writers Centre.
- ^ "Rachel Barrowman: 2010 Summer Writers Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Ann Beaglehole (2009)". Michael King Writers Centre. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Booker winner's North Shore link". North Shore Times. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Tania (23 March 2021). "Gina Cole: 2021 Established Pasifika Writers Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Massey prof gets residency". Manawatū Standard. 13 August 2008. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "2010 Writer-in-Residence selected". University of Auckland. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Better or verse". Sunday Star-Times. 17 April 2011. p. F10. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Chris Else". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Tracy Farr". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Tracy Farr: 2021 Late Winter Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Dann, Jennifer (20 November 2018). "12 Questions: Author and media personality Karyn Hay". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Visiting Author: Whiti Hereaka (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa)". Publishers Association of New Zealand Inc. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Michael King Writers' Centre 2017 Residency Recipients Announced". Creative New Zealand. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Roger Horrocks: 2015 Autumn Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Anna Jackson". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "$25,000 Writers' Award for 2021 has been awarded to writer, architectural designer, and housing advocate, Jade Kake". The Big Idea. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Anne Kennedy". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Author writes home about Palmy". Manawatū Standard. 18 October 2018. p. 11. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Colleen Maria Lenihan: 2019 Emerging Māori Writers Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Kirsten McDougall". Academy of New Zealand Literature. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Frankie McMillan: 2017 University of Auckland Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ "Climbing life's ladders". The New Zealand Herald. 2 July 2011. p. B14. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "The Michael King Writers Centre announces its Residencies for 2021". New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Kelly Ana Morey". Academy of New Zealand Literature. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Vincent O'Sullivan: 2009". Michael King Writers Centre. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Lawrence Patchett: 2018 Emerging Writers Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Majurey, Erin (24 July 2015). "Esteemed author will host writing workshop". The Daily Post. p. A7. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Maria Samuela: 2020 Emerging Pasifika Writers Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Elspeth Sandys". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Recipe for disaster". The New Zealand Herald. 13 August 2011. p. B14. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Philippa Werry". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Mere Whaanga: 2015 Māori Writer's Residency". Michael King Writers Centre. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2024.