Latest news with #WritersFestival
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
NSW spending $1.5m on literary hub to rival Melbourne's Wheeler Centre and boost Sydney Writers festival
Sydney's literati is about to get what Melbourne has had for more than decade – a rival to the Wheeler Centre that established the southern city's Unesco-endorsed reputation as the literary and publishing capital of Australia. On Sunday, the New South Wales arts minister, John Graham, announced the establishment of a dedicated literature hub, to be based out of the state's public library, as is Melbourne's Wheeler Centre. The new hub, with initial funding of $1.5m from the state government, will mean Sydney Writers festival events will take place all year round – 75 literary events over the next 12 months. 'There's nothing like a festival in terms of the intensity and the sheer numbers of fantastic things that are on,' the creative director of the Sydney Writers festival, Ann Mossop, told the Guardian. 'But this will be a little taste of the festival almost every week,' Mossop said. The year-long calendar will draw from Australia's deep literary talent pool and include appearances by international authors. 'We've had a situation in Sydney where … really, there are missed opportunities. We have fantastic books released by Australian authors … we also have amazing people coming to Australia for other events or festivals … but we haven't been able to take advantage of their visits,' Mossop said. The full program will be announced on 14 August, with the first events kicking off in September. Stella prize winner Michelle de Kretser, Burial Rites author Hannah Kent, the former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, and Pulitzer-nominated The Atlantic journalist Sophie Gilbert have been confirmed. The program will aim to deliver timely, engaging content that captures local and international literary voices, using a global literary exchange network and nurturing emerging Australian talent. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Graham said the hub would provide an inclusive and accessible platform for NSW's diverse communities, 'amplifying underrepresented voices and strengthening the connection between writers and readers'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The recently refurbished 344-seat auditorium underneath the historic Mitchell Library reading room will be the headquarters for many of the program's events, although Mossop said she expected free and family events to spread out across other library venues and elsewhere. 'The partnership recognises the role libraries play as the homes for readers and writers, and the great contribution that writers festivals play in taking what is quite a solitary act – reading – and transforming it into community experience,' Graham said in a statement. 'This $1.5m investment into a year-around program will benefit us all, strengthening the cultural heartbeat of our city, creating a home for readers and writers – a place for discussion, ideas, reflection, discovery.'
ABC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
More heads tipped to roll as police investigate inquiry report into Fiji anti-corruption commissioner
On the program today Landowners in PNG's New Ireland Province want the Prime Minister to cancel deep sea leases. More job losses expected as as police investigate inquiry report into anti-corruption commissioner. Fears climate change is exacerbating certain social issues including gender based violence in Timor Leste. Vanuatu's football Women's Development Officer strives to revive the women's league in Port Vila amid a tirade of social media abuse. An Australian inquiry into modern slavery hears of migrant workers living in unliveable accommodation. And aspiring and published Pacific and First Nations authors descend on Townsville in North Queensland for an annual writers festival.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Ghost stories and executions in Iceland — when Hannah Kent and Agnes Magnusdottir became entwined
Hannah Kent's arrival in Iceland as a high school exchange student in 2003 was a difficult one. On her first night in the country, she found herself stranded late at night at Keflavik Airport and desperately homesick. But within weeks, Iceland had begun to change young Hannah — its dramatic landscapes, extraordinary light and chilling ghost stories embedded themselves in Hannah's psyche. She became particularly entranced with the haunting story of accused murderer and domestic servant, Agnes Magnusdottir, who became the last person executed in Iceland. Hannah's later novel, Burial Rites, was inspired by Agnes' story and became a best-seller. But there were many unsolvable mysteries that lingered in her mind years after that book was released. Hannah returned to Iceland to find answers, and discovered her life was still entwined with Agnes in strange and eerie ways. Further information This episode of Conversations was recorded live at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival. Always Home, Always Homesick is published by Pan Macmillan
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
From TV to the smartphone
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Artist and illustrator Alex Scott's debut graphic novel Episodes has a dedication: "For anyone who's ever fallen for the commercial." Yes, whether it's a catchy theme tune, witty meme, friendly protagonist or memorable refrain, you may find yourself falling in love with an advertisement, against your better judgement. It's a love that you can equally fall out of, and an overriding theme in Episodes where, over a series of short stories akin to short animations, a host of characters wrestle with the pervasion of advertising in their lives. It's everywhere in the novel: from character's screens to giant billboards on street corners. It even, surreally but true-to-life comes out of the mouths of people they meet. For regular readers of magazine the New Zealand Listener Scott's work will be familiar. For 10 years she has contributed smart witty, single panel cartoons to the early columnist pages of the likes of Steve Braunias and Charlotte Grimshaw. She is part of panel Writing Auckland at Auckland Writers Festival Sunday May 18.
