Pacific Writers’ Residency 2008 awarded to David Young

Monday, 15 September 2008

Writer David Young has been awarded the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers' Residency. Based at the University of Hawai'i's Centre for Pacific Studies, the three month residency is a partnership between Creative New Zealand, Fulbright New Zealand and the University of Hawai'i.

David will use the residency to conduct research towards a planned publication Hidden Sanctuaries: waters of life in the Pacific and beyond. "I intend to publish a series of interconnected essays on sources of water and their centrality to sustaining life, looking especially at traditions and knowledge within the Pacific", he said.

Stephen Wainwright, Chief Executive of Creative New Zealand said the residency is a great opportunity for writers to dedicate three months to a specific project. "David Young is an accomplished historian and environmentalist, I am sure he will find the three months a valuable experience in terms of his research and cultural exchange."

Previous recipients of the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers' Residency are Victor Rodger (2006), filmmaker Sima Urale (2004) and performance poet Tusiata Avia (2005).

David Young leaves to take up the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers' Residency mid September.