The 40th Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are now open for entries and a new prize has been added to recognise excellence in humour writing in honour of legendary satirist, John Clarke.
The annual awards include the country’s most valuable literary prize – the Victorian Prize for Literature – and in 2025 a new category will be awarded for comedic writers.
The Prize for Humour Writing commemorates the late John Clarke, the respected New Zealand-born screenwriter behind some of New Zealand and Australia’s sharpest film and TV comedies. John was also a beloved fixture on screen for his iconic mock interviews in Clarke and Dawe, the mockumentary series The Games and comedy film Crackerjack.
“For the Victorian government to support such a significant award in his name so that humorous writing can be celebrated is a wonderful and fitting tribute,” the Clarke family said in a statement.
Established by the Government with the Clarke family, the John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing is valued at up to $25,000 and is open to books of comedic fiction, non-fiction and poetry published in 2023 and 2024.
“The late, great John Clarke made an exceptional contribution to our cultural life – he used sharp writing and humour to help us hold up a mirror to ourselves, while giving us the gift of laughter,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks.
“We are proud to introduce the new John Clarke Prize for Humour Writing, which will sit alongside the most coveted literary award in the country – the Victorian Prize for Literature.”
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards were established by then Premier John Cain in 1985 to recognise and honour the contribution of Australian writers. The program is administered independently by The Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Labor Government.
“John Clarke created his own brand of humour, and it remains beyond compare. To know this prize will help strengthen the careers of future humour writers is a beautiful and fitting tribute to one of the great satirists of our time,” said The Wheeler Centre CEO, Erin Vincent.
Submissions are now open until 5pm on Friday, 27 September. For guidelines and to enter visit wheelercentre.com.
