In 2027, the Fellowship celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking 15 years of championing First Nations theatre-makers and bringing bold, original stories to the stage.

The Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity for a First Nations playwright, director or writer/director to develop a new stage work with Belvoir over a two-year period, from January 2027 to December 2028. Whether creating a new play, adapting an existing work or developing a production through a devised process, the successful Fellow will receive funding to bring their vision to life, collaborate with Belvoir’s Artistic Team and contribute to the company’s artistic decision-making. With greater flexibility around on-site engagement, applications are welcomed from artists across Australia.

Since beginning in 2011 as The Balnaves Foundation Indigenous Playwright Award, the Fellowship has become one of Australia’s leading opportunities for First Nations theatre-makers, supporting an extraordinary generation of artists and storytellers.

Previous Fellows include Leah Purcell, whose The Drover’s Wife has evolved from a landmark play into a novel, film and opera; Nakkiah Lui, creator of Black Comedy and Black is the New White; Heartbreak High actor and writer Thomas Weatherall; and Hannah Belanszky, whose debut work don’t ask what the bird look like was shortlisted for the Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting. The 2026 Balnaves Foundation Fellow, Bianca Hunt, will bring her talk show Up Late with Bianca Hunt to Belvoir for three nights as part of Sydney Festival in January 2027.

As the Fellowship enters its 15th year, it continues to open doors for bold new voices, nurture ambitious ideas and create space for the next generation of First Nations stories to take centre stage.

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander playwright, director or writer/director who wants to create a new play with Belvoir or know someone who may be interested, head to our Fellowships and Residencies page for more information, and to download the application form. You can also click the link below to apply.

Applications Close 6pm (AEDT), Monday 9 November 2026