About
MARION is honoured to launch the inaugural Finding Beauty Poetry Prize for emerging poets in and around the ACT region. This very special prize has been established in memory of Roger Green, an environmental advocate, writer and editor, lover of poetry, and thinker. Roger believed that beauty had the power to alleviate fear and hardship, and to provide hope and inspiration.
The prize recognises and rewards emerging poets in Canberra and its surrounding regions, encouraging them to explore the theme of beauty in its many dimensions such as in the natural world, art, music and human action.
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Monday 19 May – Entries due
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Friday 20 June – Shortlist announced
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Thursday 3 July – ACT Literary Awards Night
For this inaugural prize, Roger’s family has chosen the theme Finding Beauty – in Nature.
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The First Prize winner will receive AUD $5,000.
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The Second Prize winner will receive AUD $2,000.
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The remaining selected shortlisted poets will each receive AUD $750.
Judges
Melinda Smith lives and writes on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country. She is an award-winning Australian poet whose career spans 23 years and eight books. In 2014, she received the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Poetry for her collection Drag Down to Unlock or Place an Emergency Call. She has taught in the Creative Writing program at the University of Canberra, served as Poetry Editor at The Canberra Times (2015–2017), and co-organised the That Poetry Thing reading series at Smith’s Alternative.
Bebe Oliver is a Bardi Jawi award-winning author, poet, and illustrator. His creative journey began as a classical pianist and composer, later expanding into theatre, festivals, and public art projects across Australia and internationally. He is currently the Artistic Director and CEO of Blak & Bright, Australia’s premier First Nations literary festival, and serves as Deputy Chair of Magabala Books.
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