Tim Thorne Prize for Poetry 2027

The Tim Thorne Prize for Poetry is a published book of poetry by a Tasmanian writer. 

This prize is open to poetry collections and single poems of substantial length published in book form.

The judges will award the prize to a book deemed to have the highest literary merit.

This award is named in honour of renowned Tasmanian poet Tim Thorne (1944–2021).

The winner will receive $25,000.

Entries open on 6 July 2026 and close 17 August 2026.

The Tasmanian Literary Awards are administered by Creative Tasmania on behalf of the Tasmanian Government.

The following eligibility criteria apply:

The author(s)

• The entered work must have no more than two authors.
  • Where a book is co-created with an artist (for example, an illustrated children’s book, graphic novel, or photography book), the artist is deemed to be an “author” for the purpose of the terms and conditions.

• • This means that Creative Tasmania will pay the artist an equal share of the prize award for this category (unless the author and the artist inform Creative Tasmania in writing that they have agreed to a different share), the artist may meet the Tasmanian residency requirements, and that the artist may submit the entry to the awards.

• The author, or one of the two authors, must be resident in Tasmania.
  • This means that the author must have lived in Tasmania for six of the past 12 months as at the date of entry into the awards.

• The author, or one of the two authors, must be living as at the date of entry into the awards.

The book

• The entry must be a published book.
  • A ‘book’ is a paper-based publication with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) that is available for sale. 
  • Publications that are for sale as a digital book only are ineligible.

• The book must have been published for the first time between 2 August 2024 and 2 August 2026.
  • In the case of a collection (such as a collection of poems, short stories or essays), the individual works may have been previously published.

• The book must be in English.
  • A book is still ‘in English’ if words, sentences or short sections of another language are used.

• The book must be the author or authors’ own original work. This means that (amongst other things):
  • the book has not been ghost written by another author; and
  • the book (words and illustrations) must not be generated by artificial intelligence (AI). To assist judges with their determination of originality and eligibility, entrants must acknowledge where AI has been used in the production of the work (for example formatting or editing assistance).

• If the book incorporates or uses any Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), the creation of the book must have complied with clause 14.3 in the terms and conditions in its creation.

• A book may only be entered into one published book prize category.

Entries must be submitted to Creative Tasmania by:

• completing this digital entry form, and

• delivering a printout of the completed entry form, together with four hard copies of the book, to Creative Tasmania.

• Entries must be submitted on or before 17 August 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.

• The printout of the online entry form and hard copies of the book may be delivered to Creative Tasmania in one of two ways:
  • delivering four hard copies of the book by hand to Creative Tasmania at 4 Salamanca Place, Hobart, between 9am and 5pm weekdays, no later than 17 August 2026.
  • sending four hard copies of the book by post to Creative Tasmania, GPO Box 536, Hobart TAS 7001, postmarked on or before 17 August 2026.

• Creative Tasmania will send the entrant confirmation of entry.

• Any and all materials provided to Creative Tasmania, including hard copies of the book and writing samples, will not be returned to entrants.

• Where the book has more than one author:
  • Creative Tasmania will pay the authors in equal shares, unless the authors inform Creative Tasmania in writing that they have agreed to a different share; andthe author who is submitting the entry must have the permission of the other author (or their estate) to enter the book in these awards.
  • The entering author is responsible for ensuring that Creative Tasmania can be provided with any Additional Materials and that the entering author can give the licence and warranties in relation to the use of those materials under clause 11 of the terms and conditions.

• An entry for the published book prizes may be submitted by an agent or publisher on behalf of an author or authors. The agent or publisher does so as agent for the author, and in submitting the entry, warrants that they hold all the rights necessary to enter the awards and agree to these terms on behalf of the author, including to give the permissions and warranties on the author’s behalf.