Tsiolkas announced as final judge for The Next Chapter

The Wheeler Centre has announced author Christos Tsiolkas as the final judge for its $150,000 initiative for developing writers, The Next Chapter.

Tsiolkas joins previously announced judges Benjamin Law, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Ellen van Neerven as part of the nationwide scheme, which will offer 10 Australian writers a grant of $15,000 each to help them develop their work.

Tsiolkas said, ‘I am supporting The Next Chapter because we need to listen to and be astonished by more voices in Australian writing. Both to reflect the reality of contemporary Australia but also, and possibly more importantly, to provoke and invigorate cultural forms and expressions.

‘The danger of the word diversity is that it can be reduced to feel-good, kumbaya sloganeering. The radical dare of diversity is that it challenges us to be open not only to the difference of voice but the difference of opinion, politics, belief, aesthetic, commitment and priority. Real diversity should burst bubbles and we need that more than ever now.’

Applications for the inaugural round are currently open until Friday, 13 July. The successful recipients will be announced in late September, with the mentorships to commence in early November.

For more information, see the website.

Category: Local news