Media Release: The inaugural Tracy Sorensen Writing Residency has launched in Bathurst to support emerging Australian writers.
The Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival and Arts OutWest have announced the launch of the Tracy Sorensen Emerging Writers Residency, a new initiative established to honour the life, work and lasting legacy of acclaimed Bathurst author Tracy Sorensen.
The residency commemorates Tracy Sorensen, who passed away in Bathurst in May 2025. Tracy was a journalist, filmmaker, academic, teacher and author whose distinctive creative voice earned national recognition. Her debut novel, The Lucky Galah, was longlisted for the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award, while her second novel, The Vitals, was widely praised for its originality and inventive storytelling.
Established through a partnership between the Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival and Arts OutWest, the annual residency will provide emerging and early-career writers with the opportunity to spend dedicated time in the Bathurst Region developing new work in a supportive regional environment. The program includes accommodation, studio space, a stipend, connections with the local community and opportunities for professional development.
The residency reflects Tracy’s enduring commitment to creativity, storytelling and nurturing new voices in Australian literature, commented Bathurst Mayor Ben Fry.
“Tracy was an extraordinary writer and creative thinker whose generosity and passion for storytelling inspired countless people.
“This residency will help ensure her legacy continues by supporting the next generation of writers and giving them the time and space they need to develop their craft,” said Mayor Fry.
The launch of the residency follows a successful fundraising campaign held during this year’s Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival. The campaign attracted strong community support, with generous donations helping establish what organisers hope will become a significant opportunity for emerging Australian authors.
Writers from across Australia will be invited to apply for the residency, with encouragement for applications from Regional NSW writers and Aboriginal writers. The program aims to foster creativity, strengthen professional practice and deepen engagement with regional communities.
Mayor Ben Fry further remarked the residency was a fitting tribute to a writer whose work was deeply connected to place, imagination and community.
“Tracy’s writing challenged conventions and celebrated the power of unique perspectives. Through this residency, emerging writers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a regional creative environment and continue the spirit of innovation and generosity that Tracy embodied,” stated Mayor Fry.
Applications and further information are available via the Arts OutWest website: https://artsoutwest.org.au/pf/tsew-residency/
Image 1: Tracy with the cover of her book The Vitals at the Charles Perkins Centre Sydney.
Image 2: Mayor Ben Fry and Arts OutWest Executive Director Kylie Shead
