The recent Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) have highlighted the important role The University of Queensland plays in supporting the literary community in the sunshine state.
At this year’s awards four current and former UQ students were nominated for the Courier Mail’s 2015 People’s Choice Award and PhD student Inga Simpson won a QLA Fellowship.
School of Communication and Arts lecturer Dr Stuart Glover said the QLA were an important platform for new and established writers.
“The awards are a mix of national and state prizes and are an opportunity to notice and celebrate local books,” Dr Glover said.
“They encourage emerging writers and some of the awards offer publishing opportunities.”
When funding for the Premier’s Literary Awards was cut in 2012, Dr Glover became the chair of the organising committee for the new Queensland Literary Awards.
“The awards partly exist now because of the University, which maintained support as a cash sponsor and in developing certain award categories,” he said.
“UQ continues to demonstrate central leadership of literary culture. We train and employ so many of the judges, nominees and winners.”
Earlier this year the Queensland Government announced renewed funding for the QLA, with UQ alumna and State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk attending this year’s awards.
“It was very heartening to have the premier speak,” Dr Glover said.
“She outlined the importance of reading and culture, not only to her, but also to the development of the state.”
UQ is a cash sponsor of the event which is also supported by UQ Press.
UQ extends its sponsorship of Queensland literacy as a major partner of the annual Brisbane Writers’ Festival.
Media: Humanities and Social Sciences Media Gillian Ievers, 3346 1633 or g.ievers@uq.edu.au.
