09 April 2016

The annual Kat Muscat Fellowship develops young female and feamle idenifying writers and editors from around Australia.

The Fellowship offers professional development up to the value of $3,000 for an editorial project or work of writing by a young person and aims to continue Kat’s legacy and further develop the future of defiant young Australian women. Bri Lee, recipient of the 2016 Fellowship says:

The Kat Muscat Fellowship changed my entire career trajectory. It helped me secure a literary agent, which led to my signing with Allen & Unwin. More importantly though, it allowed me to pay two incredible mentors who helped me draft my manuscript and navigate the complexities of the writing life. I would not be the writer I am today without the Fellowship.

The 2017 Fellow, Fury the Poet, similarly acknowledges the Fellowship’s value.

A writer’s work is often solitary, so having a voice in my ear affirming, challenging, encouraging and guiding me has given me strength to develop faster and with more confidence as a writer… That, for me, has been the real gift.

Kat Muscat was a brilliant young mind of the Australian writing community, whose formidable talent was demonstrated through her incisive writing and perceptive editing. Kat was an integral part of Express Media for many years, before becoming Editor of Voiceworks from 2012 to 2014. Throughout her 10 years with Express Media, Kat helped to shape the career of young writers and editors from all around Australia.

The current list of Fellows is Bri Lee (2016), Fury the Poet (2017), Ana Maria Gomides (2018) and Liana Skrzypczak (2019).

Kat Muscat edited Voiceworks magazine (2012–2013) at the ripe old age of 21; volunteered with the magazine for years before becoming editor; and was involved in the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the National Young Writers’ Festival and TINA. She also blogged and wrote for the likes of The Lifted Brow, Junkee, Lip Magazine, Scum, Pitch Bitch, Stilts, Feminartsy, Kill Your Darlings and Seizure Online.

Kat’s nearest and dearest, closest colleagues and friends say it best. Read Aldolfo Aranjuez’s tribute to Kat’s spirit here; read Geoff Lemon’s ‘Hey, Kat’ here; and read Amy Grey’s ‘Missing Kat Muscat’ at Pesky Feminist.

Find out more about the Kat Muscat Fellowship here. You can read an excerpt of Bri’s debut memoir Eggshell Skull in the Good Weekend, read more about Bri on hercanberra and read more of Bri’s work here.

If you feel like you need to speak with someone at any time about anything:
Lifeline: free confidential 24-hour support on 13 11 14; nightly online crisis support chat — lifeline.org.au
Grief line: free confidential phone service 12pm to 3am seven days on 1300 845-745 (National – Landline Only); online counselling service — griefline.org.au
Suicide Call Back: phone, video, online counselling 24/7 on 1300 659-467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au.