Qantas today announced Alli Sebastian Wolf as winner of the Written Word Category in the 2013 Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA 365), which recognise outstanding young Australian artists.

The Sydney-based multidisciplinary artist becomes one of only five recipients of the award.  Hundreds of talented Australian writers entered SOYA 365 for a chance to win the prestigious title as well as $5,000 in cash, $5,000 in Qantas flights and a rare 12-month mentorship opportunity with the director of the Melbourne Writers Festival, Lisa Dempster.

Alli’s work encompasses theatre, performance, fiction writing and visual art.  She has received a NSW Premier’s Western Sydney Young Writers’ Fellowship, the Sydney Fringe Festival’s Excellence in New Theatre Award and an ArtStart Grant, and her writing has been widely anthologised.

“I’m thrilled to be given this award and have my work recognised by such an accomplished writer,” Alli said.

Written Word Mentor Lisa Dempster selected Alli from an impressive field of entrants, many of whom were commended for pushing literary boundaries.

“Alli Sebastian Wolf’s work defies categorisation, crossing genres and platforms, and is startling in its originality,” she said.

“She has international ambition, and the talent to match; I believe this award will enable her to take the next step in what I have no doubt will be a long and rewarding creative career.”

The runners up were Michelle Law from Queensland and Patrick Lenton from Sydney.

Now in its ninth year, SOYA 365 rewards and encourages the work of a new generation of creative talent, giving young Australians the financial and professional support they need to share their work with the world.

The new SOYA 365 hub is open for submissions with new creative categories closing every month.

For more information on SOYA 365 and Alli Sebastian Wolf visit: http://www.soya.com.au/entrant/alli-sebastian-wolf/