The Queensland Literary Awards is an awards program established in 2012 by the Queensland literary community, funded by sponsors and administered by the State Library of Queensland. Like the former Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the QLAs celebrate and promote outstanding Australian writing. The awards aim to seek out, recognize and nurture great talent in Australian writing. They draw national and international attention to some of our best writers and to Queensland's recognition of outstanding Australian literature and publishing.
These awards have a focus on supporting new writing through the Emerging Queensland Writer – Manuscript Award and Unpublished Indigenous writer – David Unaipon Award. "They give local writers and new writers something to aspire to."
History
The Queensland Literary Awards was established by a not-for-profit association of passionate Queensland volunteers and advocates for literature, in response to Queensland Premier Campbell Newman disestablishing the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards in 2012.
In 2012 and 2013 the program was run by a volunteer workforce. Following consultation with the QLA Inc. governing committee, 2014 saw the management of the QLA transition to State Library of Queensland (SLQ). While SLQ took on a leadership role in delivering the program, the aim was to continue to build on the existing collaborative model where the community and writing sector partners are key stakeholders.
The original Premier's awards were established by Peter Beattie, the then Premier of Queensland in 1998 and first awarded in 1999.
Award categories
There are currently twelve award categories including:
- Queensland Premier's Award for a work of State Significance
- Queensland Premier's Young Publishers and Writers Award
- Queensland Writers Fellowships
- The University of Queensland Fiction Book Award
- The University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book Award
- Young Adult Book Award
- Children's Book Award
- University of Southern Queensland Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection
- Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection
- David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Writer
- Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer
- The Courier-Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year
Judging
The awards are judged by independent panels of writers, critics, journalists, academics and booksellers. They are presented to works the judges determine possess the highest literary merit.
Winners
2024
The shortlist was announced on 1 August 2024. Winners were announced on 5 September 2024.
2023
The winners were announced on 6 September 2023.
2022
The winners were announced on 8 September 2022.
2021
The winners were announced on 9 September 2021.
2020
The winners were announced on 4 September 2020.
2019
The winners were announced on 12 November 2019.
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
References
External links
- State Library of Queensland. History of the Awards (past Queensland Literary Award winners and finalists)
- Queensland Literary Awards (archive)
