A continuance of tradition was one of the first official duties for University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne yesterday at her inaugural council meeting as the institution's new chief executive.
Prof Hayne said she was proud to continue Otago's strong tradition of supporting New Zealand's creative artists when she announced the four recipients of the university's prestigious arts fellowships.
Dunedin poet and novelist Emma Neale has been awarded the Robert Burns Fellowship; Auckland artist Nick Austin the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship; and Wellington composer Robbie Ellis will be the new Mozart Fellow.
The University of Otago College of Education and Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence would be author and poet James Norcliffe, of Christchurch, Prof Hayne said.
She wished the four artists and writers well in their creative endeavours during the next year.
"This continues Otago's fine tradition of supporting the arts with fellowships that have assisted so many of New Zealand's most loved and respected artists to make their mark over the years," Prof Hayne said.
Ms Neale said she was delighted to be named Burns Fellow. It meant she would be able to write full-time, an opportunity she had never had before.
"One of the beauties of a fellowship is having the time to read and explore ideas. It's so enticing," she said.
Frances Hodgkins Fellow Nick Austin, of Auckland, said the artists residency was one of the most generous on offer in New Zealand.
He was "thrilled and privileged" to receive the award, and was looking forward to the freedom of working with no other professional obligations while living in Dunedin for the year, Mr Austin said.
Mozart Fellow Robbie Ellis said he was "incredibly excited and grateful to the university" for giving him his first opportunity to be a full-time composer. He plans to use his time as Mozart fellow to write a major musical theatre piece.
Christchurch author James Norcliffe said he would put his time to good use during the six-month residency as the University of Otago College of Education and Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence.
Mr Norcliffe intends to write another sequel to his novel The Loblolly Boy, which won the junior fiction category at the 2010 NZ Post Children's Book Awards, and its sequel, The Loblolly Boy and the Sorcerer.
• Robert Burns Fellow: Emma Neale (Dunedin), poet, novelist, editor.
• Frances Hodgkins Fellow: Nick Austin (Auckland), artist, Gambia Art Gallery co-founder.
• Mozart Fellow: Robbie Ellis (Wellington), composer, Radio New Zealand producer and presenter.
• University of Otago College of Education and Creative NZ Children's Writer in Residence: James Norcliffe (Christchurch), novelist, poet.
