Letty Katts Fellowship

The biennial Letty Katts Fellowship supports the research and documenting of Queensland’s music history. It gives a musician, composer, scholar or researcher the opportunity to study, experiment and explore new thinking in their art or area of study, leading to the creation of new knowledge or work inspired by Queensland’s music history. It commemorates Queensland songwriter and musician Violet Mellick (stage name Letty Katts).

The recipient receives a stipend of $5,000, along with a personal workspace within the Neil Roberts Research Lounge for a period of six months, giving premium access to the extensive collections and expert library staff and advice.

Applications for 2022 have now closed. Applications will open again in mid 2023. 

Interested in applying and have questions? Read our FAQ, or reach out to us at fellowships@slq.qld.gov.au or on (07) 3840 7879 or (07) 3840 7887.

Generously supported by Dr Stanton Mellick OAM ED and Professor Jill Mellick through the Queensland Library Foundation.

The 2022 Letty Katts Fellowship was awarded to Dr Leah Cotterell for her project, Sunday Nights at the Primitif.

Leah’s project is focused on a State Library collection of photos of musicians and variety artists performing at The Primitif coffee lounge in the late 1950s. The research seeks to add to the collection, by identifying as many of the musicians as possible and creating biographies from public records and interviews. It also seeks to explore the context in which The Primitif operated in order to develop a richer understanding of this formative period in Queensland’s music history and the role The Primitif played in the careers of a generation of jazz musicians.

For more information about Leah's project watch her video below.