There, they have access to the writing room in Villa Isola Bella where one of New Zealand's most famous writers, Katherine Mansfield, once lived. The list of past Katherine Mansfield Fellows reads like a Who's Who of New Zealand writers. Each Fellow has benefited from this life-changing experience, which has resulted in an impressive array of award-winning books.
The Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship Trust has managed the Fellowship since inception. In 2015 the Trust decided that it was the right time to shift from relying on sponsorship, to instead establishing a permanent capital fund to secure this Fellowship indefinitely.
The Winn-Manson Menton Trust joined with the Arts Foundation in an ambitious bid to raise a capital sum of $800,000 to ensure this iconic fellowship survives for all time. A special fundraising committee, chaired by Arts Foundation Patron, Keith Ferguson, offered art philanthropists and sympathetic individuals the opportunity to make donations large and small to secure the Fellowship. Following confirmation of a generous donation from the New Zealand France Friendship Fund and Creative New Zealand, in 2016 the Arts Foundation Trustees agreed that the target had been met and the management of the Fellowship could be transferred to the Arts Foundation. Since this time, further donations of $360,000 have been received, including $300,000 in additional funds from the New Zealand France Friendship Fund. The value of the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship funds under management at the Arts Foundation is now $1.16 million.
Kate Camp was the first recipient of the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship under the Arts Foundation. Kate travelled to Menton in April 2017 to spend seven months writing at Villa Isola Bella.
With the help of some generous supporters, the Fellowship has been saved for all time. The Winn-Manson Menton Trust and the Arts Foundation would like to sincerely thank the following donors;
- Keith & Helen Ferguson (Platinum Lifetime)
- Richard & Frances Cathie (Platinum Lifetime)
- Adam Foundation (Gold)
- Ann-Louise Gower (Gold)
- Susie Pennington Family (Gold)
- Sir John Todd (Gold)
- Anonymous (Gold)
- Lindsay Park (Silver)
- Philippa Williams (Silver)
- Jenny Smith (Silver)
- Angela Busby (Bronze)
- Anne Donnell (Bronze)
- Janet Frame Literary Trust (Bronze)
- John & Jan Gilbert (Bronze)
- Victoria Jones & Ed Allen (Bronze)
- Roger King & Liffy Roberts (Bronze)
- Jane Meares & Denis Clifford (Bronze)
- Julie Anne Scott (Bronze)
- David & Rachel Underwood (Bronze)
- Frances & Stephen Underwood (Bronze)
- Anonymous (3) (Bronze)
- Charlotte Andrew
- Rob & Margaret Buckett
- Mike Caird
- Caroline Corkill
- Anna Cottrell
- Marilyn Duckworth
- Ken Duncum
- Fiona Farrell
- A Gribben
- Roger Hall
- Susie Hall
- Penelope Hansen
- Pamella Laird
- Ann Mallinson
- Marg McConnochie
- Mary McEwen
- Caroline McGhie
- Juliet Mckee
- S McKegg
- Chris Price
- Margery Renwick
- Caroline Rhodes
- Nicola Saker
- Lloyd Scott
- Karen Stade
- Adriane Swinburn
- Janet Waite & David Waite
- New Zealand Players Theatre Trust Board
- Pip Ballard's Book Group
- Mapua 001 Book Group
- Book Discussion Scheme Group 063
- Book Club 03
- Preen Book Group
- Upper Hutt Ladies Book group
- Craft Bookclub
- Between the Covers Book Club
- Glitterati of Wellington
- Timaru Book Discussion Group
- Book Discussion Group Hamilton
- The Judges
- Wellington Book/Theatre/Movie
- Astra Book Club, Auckland
- Bookgroup CHCH056
- Mattie Wall
- Book Club (Anna Powell)
- Dire Tribe Book Club
- The Book Club
- Strictly Bedtime Book Club
- Book Club 007
- Book Club Susie Fitzgerald
- U3A Book Group
- Gynaelib Book Group
- Paraparaumu Book Club
- Bookclub 119
- Easy Book Club
- Korokoro Book Club
- Hamilton Book Club
- Raumati Readers
- BDS Book Group WELL 041
- Book Club (Margaret Thurston)
- Book Group Masterton
- Anonymous
- Eastbourne Book Club