Randell Cottage Writers' Residency Explained

Randell Cottage Writers' Residency
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Awarded For:Writing
Presenter:Randell Cottage Writers' Trust
Location:Thorndon, Wellington
Country:New Zealand
Reward:Rent-free accommodation and stipend

The Randell Cottage Writers' Residency is a literary residency in New Zealand. It is awarded annually to one New Zealand writer and one French writer, comprising six months' rent-free accommodation at Randell Cottage in Wellington and a stipend (set at 27,450).[1] The recipients are usually mid-career writers.[2] The cottage itself is listed with Heritage New Zealand.

History

The residency is based at Randell Cottage in the suburb of Thorndon, Wellington. The cottage was built in 1868 by William Randell, the great-grandfather of children's author Beverley Randell.[3] [4] He and his wife Sarah raised their 10 children at the cottage. After seventy years of the cottage being owned by other families, Beverley and her husband, Hugh Price, bought the cottage in 1994 and restored it to how it had been at the time of William's ownership.[5] [6] [7]

In 2002, on the suggestion of her daughter Susan Price, Beverley Randell decided to gift the cottage to a trust for the purpose of setting up a writers' residency.[5] [7] [8] [9] The plan was partly inspired by an attempt to set up a similar residency in memory of the poet Lauris Edmond, which had been unsuccessful.[6] It was the first dedicated writers' residency in Wellington.[5] In part, the residency reciprocates the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, which provides a residency based in France for New Zealand writers.[8] The trust is supported by Creative New Zealand, the New Zealand–France Friendship Fund and the Wellington City Council.[7] [10] Founding trustees included Fiona Kidman and Vincent O'Sullivan.[11]

Kirsty Gunn, 2009 writer-in-residence, described the cottage:[12]

Caroline Laurent, the 2021 French recipient, was unable to take up the residency during the year due to COVID-19 border restrictions.[1] She eventually was able to

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Applications Invited For 2022 Randell Cottage Writers Residency open now . New Zealand Society of Authors . 21 December 2021 . 22 September 2021.
  2. Web site: 16 September 2020. Applications invited for 2021 Randell Cottage Writers Residency. 8 March 2021. Read NZ Te Pou Muramura.
  3. News: Sharp . Iain . Biblio file . 13 December 2021 . Sunday Star-Times . 2 December 2001 . F2. .
  4. Web site: A Record of the Archaeological Discoveries Made at 14 Mary Street Thorndon, Wellington when the Settler's Cottage was Restored . Te Papa Tongarewa . 13 January 2022.
  5. News: Dedicated to Writing . 13 December 2021 . Dominion . 24 September 2001 . 13. .
  6. News: Cardy . Tom . Pair gift writers' retreat . 13 December 2021 . Evening Post . 22 September 2001 . 2. .
  7. News: Penman . Carla . Thorndon writers' cottage turns 10 . 13 December 2021 . Dominion Post . 12 June 2012.
  8. News: Manson . Bess . Historic cottage inspires special gift . 13 December 2021 . Dominion . 26 December 2001 . 11. .
  9. News: Kitchin . Peter . Hugh Price: Energetic bookworm took words to millions . 13 December 2021 . Dominion Post . 1 February 2010.
  10. Web site: Our Partners . Randell Cottage Writers Trust . 13 December 2021.
  11. News: Mabey . Claire . Vale Vincent O'Sullivan, 1937–2024 . 30 April 2024 . The Spinoff . 29 April 2024 . en . 29 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429231014/https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/29-04-2024/vale-vincent-osullivan-1937-2024 . live .
  12. News: Write at home in Wellington . 13 December 2021 . Dominion Post . 15 December 2020 . 9. .