Commonwealth Literary Fund
CLF
1908 – 1973
Commonwealth fund for the support of Australian literature, paying pensions to aged and needy writers and their dependants and, from 1939, fellowships to writers and subsidies for the publication of Australian books and journals.
How it came into existence
Set up in 1908 by the Deakin government by executive decision and parliamentary appropriation, as a fund administered under the Prime Minister to assist writers in need; it was a new Commonwealth function rather than one taken over from another body.
Changes during its life
- 1939Reconstituted under a committee of members of Parliament advised by a board of writers, adding fellowships, publication guarantees and lectures to its pensions.
- 31 May 1971Moved with the other Commonwealth arts functions to the Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts.
- 19 December 1972Arts functions returned to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Whitlam government.
How it ended
Wound up in 1973 when its functions were taken over by the Literature Board of the restructured arts council (the Australia Council) set up by the Whitlam government.
- writers' pensions and fellowships
- publication subsidies
Taken over by the Literature Board.
Main functions
- pensions for aged and needy writers and their families
- fellowships for writers
- subsidies for publication of Australian literature
- grants to literary journals
- lectures on Australian literature
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.