NSW spending $1.5m on literary hub to rival Melbourne's Wheeler Centre and boost Sydney Writers festival
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
2 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Five burning questions from Triple J's Australian Hottest 100, a ‘rare and precious thing'
More than 2.6 million people voted in Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs poll, anointing INXS as the Aussiest of Aussie bands for their classic anthem Never Tear Us Apart. The full list spans decades, genres and regions. But there were some key standouts – and some burning questions – as the results rolled in on Saturday afternoon. Lachlan Macara, the head of Triple J, said the campaign began as a neat way to recognise 50 years of the station but soon grew into a chance for Australians from all walks of life 'to share our feelings of our unique cultural worth'. 'Our audience really understands we really need to get behind Australian music at the moment', Macara said. 'If we want the next 50 years to sound as good as the last 50, we need to stay really fucking loud about how good it is.' Linda Marigliano, a former Triple J presenter, said the station has tapped into something special with young Australians for decades, meeting them where they are, year after year, about 'what's important to them'. The all-Australian countdown created an 'extra sense of ownership and … patriotism', she said. 'You're having these passionate arguments between people of different generations about songs from different generations.' she said. 'I think that is what one of the most exciting things'. Macara said Triple J wasn't surprised the most votes in the Hottest 100 came from the 18 to 29 demographic, the station's key listenership. But he said it was fascinating to see so many votes come in from people for songs that came out before they were born 'We know how big nostalgia is', he said. 'Classics are classics for a reason.' Chris Cheney, the lead singer of The Living End – whose song Prisoner of Society came in at number 41 on Saturday – said the Australian Hottest 100 became a spectacle reminiscent of when the song came out in 1997, when 'kids were ringing in' to radio stations demanding to hear it. 'It was a real movement. It harkened back to that [on Saturday] with people just calling in to the DJs from house parties,' he said. Cheney said while the band never set out to write a classic, great songs brought people together around ideas everyone can relate to. 'You're just trying to write songs that you like', he said. 'You're not sure if it's ever going to get further than the rehearsal room. But this, 25 years later, is extraordinary on a personal level.' Marigliano said she was proud INXS topped the list, but thought the results would be different. 'I honestly thought Australians would choose more of a joke song,' she said. 'I think there's this part of me that when the Hottest 100 rolls around I always suspect that the No 1 song will be a big, boisterous crowd pleaser. 'One of the most beautifully written, elegant, heartbreaking, sombre hits comes in at No 1,' she mused of Never Tear Us Apart, 'I can't help but being proud of the elegant little dickheads that we are'. The Hottest 100 was peppered with classic hits from Crowded House, Powderfinger, Paul Kelly and Silverchair. But some were surprised when The Veronicas' pop anthem Untouched took third place. Regardless, The Veronicas said on Sunday they were 'blown away' by the ranking, saying Untouched represented a feeling of liberation for the duo that was reflected in Australian's love for having fun. 'It's been the greatest honour to see this song unite so many different people & scenes around the world, and especially back home in Australia', the duo wrote. Macara said it was hard not to get emotional seeing the country have a shared moment together centred on music, saying thousands of people were texting in as each song played on Saturday about how they had soundtracked parts of their lives. One of those texts read: 'I'm on the 246 bus from St Kilda to Abbotsford and loving that I can tell whose headphones are playing the hottest 100 as the headbanging is happening in unison.' Macara said he hoped the momentum from the Australian Hottest 100 carried on into the coming countdown wrapping up the best songs of this year. But he said he was struck by the unifying experience of the weekend's event. He shared a text Triple J got on Saturday from a longtime listener: Hi. I'm 70 years old. I still play loud rock'n'roll in a live band. I've been listening to Triple J all my life. My kids listen to Triple J. I just want to say that what you are doing today is so important. This music is brings (sic) generations together. And today we're all listening to the same songs at the same time. Australian songs. It's bringing people right across the country together That's a rare and precious thing. Marigliano said the Australian countdown could encourage people who may be out of the Triple J loop to dive back in and become champions of local acts. 'I think it definitely shines a light on how much we need to care about Australian artists', Marigliano said. 'Especially seeing so many legacy acts in the countdown, all these older songs, and you think, 'Oh my God, was that the golden era? Do we not care as much any more?' 'We need to care. We need to champion young, strange artists'. The fun continues this week on Double J: the station plans to unveil 20 songs a day that came in from 200th place to 101st, 10 each morning and 10 each afternoon.
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Footy great Trent Cotchin is left with lipstick in a VERY embarrassing spot as he racks up another win on Dancing With The Stars
Trent Cotchin and Jess Raffa stunned during Sunday night's episode of Dancing With The Stars, booking their place in the Grand Finale with a sensational Cha Cha. However, in an embarrassing twist of events, the former Richmond star was left with a red lipstick mark on his crotch. The footy star and his partner wrapped up a successful evening, finishing second on the leaderboard on Sunday night, behind Brittany Hockley and Craig Monley, on 34 points. Cotchin and Raffa set the audience alight as they performed a Cha Cha, with the former midfielder showcasing the brilliant quick feet he dazzled with throughout his glittering footy career. The pair danced and jived around the stage, while also flawlessly completing multiple difficult lifts and drops. At one point, the footy star even ripped off his red checked shirt, sending cheers up among the audience. The judges and Sonia Kruger (left) made light of the embarrassing wardrobe malfunction after Cotchin and Raffa's performance After the performance, the pair headed over for a chat with Sonia Kruger, to hear the judges' scores. But during the dance, it appears the 35-year-old former AFL player, who was wearing white pants and a black vest, accidentally got some of Raffa's makeup smeared on his crotch. While it was an awkward moment for the couple, the judges made light of the situation. 'Have you got lipstick, that'd be an odd place,' Kruger said, noticing the mark on the former footy star's pants. 'Oh my gosh! Can we?' she added, bringing more attention to the mark. The moment sent the judges into hysterics, while Cotchin said: 'I was already awkward, now I'm extremely awkward.' Kruger then noted that the moment must have happened during one of the lifts the couple had completed during the routine, speaking to Raffa: 'So you've kind of face-planted.' 'Anyway, moving on Sonia, thank you,' Cotchin quipped. After Cotchin had taken off his shirt, he had also swung his head around to the judges, noting that he had looked right at Craig Revel Horwood. 'I was staring down the barrel with Craig (Revel Horwood),' Cotchin said. 'I'd like to try that death drop, darling,' Revel Horwood joked back. Dancing With The Stars fans had previously noted how Cotchin had been a little awkward to dance with Raffa during the early days of the show, suggesting he had been a little hesitant to dance with another woman who was not his wife, and his childhood sweetheart Brooke. 'Even to this day, if I watch it, I'm like, 'Oh, yuk!' he told TV Week. Raffa had also told him to 'stop being so f***ing awkward' during the early stages of the show. He laughed off the comment, replying: 'I can't help it - that's just how I am!' 'I think deep down she probably appreciates it.' Aussie boxing star Harry Garside opened proceedings on Sunday night with a Mad Max-themed tango with Siobhan Power. However, while Garside didn't finish bottom of Sunday's rankings, with Michael Usher and Natalie Lowe placing below them on 19 points, the Olympian was eliminated from the show, after being awarded 20 points. 'It's been so much fun, it's such an amazing process,' Garside said. 'To share this with Siobhan, and to learn how to dance from her, like how cool is that? So fingers crossed it helps my boxing, I'm sure it will.'
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Booby Tape founder Bridgett Roccisano CONFIRMS split with husband Joshua Cavallaro just two years after their wedding
The founder of Australian brand Booby Tape has sent tongues wagging after appearing in a new photo without her wedding ring. Bridgett Roccisano, who wed Joshua Cavallaro in 2023 in a lavish Melbourne ceremony, posted to Instagram on Sunday to share a slew of mirror selfies. However, eagle-eyed fans noticed that the entrepreneur did not have her wedding or engagement rings on in the images, prompting speculation that she and her husband of two years had split. The 34-year-old, who recently welcomed a baby girl Elle in April, is often known to show off her massive six-carat sparkler in her posts, which makes the ring's absence all the more peculiar. 'It's been a minute! Suit, always,' she captioned the post, while also tagging the clothing brand which she founded with her sister Bianca. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The photo showed her wearing a maroon-coloured dress, a maroon-coloured blazer and matching heels, which showcased her long, trim pins. The businesswoman only further fuelled split rumours by removing all photos of her husband from her Instagram page, including their wedding portraits. Joshua has also removed all images of Bridget from his own page. However, the two still follow each other on Instagram. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Bridgett Roccisano for comment. The Booby Tape millionaire married Joshua in a fairytale wedding at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne in April 2023. Mildura-born, Melbourne-based Bridgett dazzled in a bespoke gown by designer Con Ilio that featured an off-shoulder design, long sleeves and dramatic ruching. The swanky black-tie reception took place at the National Gallery of Victoria, where singer Ricki-Lee Coulter wowed guests with a surprise late-night performance. Joshua popped the question to Bridgett in London with a jaw-dropping six-carat diamond ring back in November 2021. However, the pair's love story started decades ago when Bridgett and Joshua were in high school together. They didn't start dating until a few years ago when the Covid pandemic brought her back to her hometown of Mildura, Victoria. 'It was only due to Covid-19 that she went back to our hometown of Mildura, and they connected in 2020. The rest is history,' her sister Bianca previously said. The Roccisano sisters are co-founders of the eponymous clothing label Bianca and Bridgett and beauty brand Booby Tape, which has been described as a 'breast lift in a box '. Worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Booby Tape products are sold in more than 50 countries.
