Sydney Writers Festival, State Library Launch $1.5M Year-Round Literature Hub

Beginning in September 2025, a new year-round literary hub will launch at the State Library of NSW through a $1.5 million partnership between the Sydney Writers Festival and the State Library, supported by the NSW Government. This initiative aims to create over 300 paid opportunities for local writers and deliver a diverse calendar of literary events, workshops, and readings, embedding reading and writing into Sydney’s cultural identity. The program will amplify underrepresented voices, nurture emerging talent, and support global literary exchange by featuring both Australian and international authors. Minister for the Arts John Graham emphasized the importance of this investment as part of the first comprehensive writing and literature strategy by an Australian government. The initiative seeks to transform Sydney into a literary capital rivaling Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre by offering ongoing cultural experiences beyond the annual festival. Confirmed participants include celebrated authors such as Stella Prize winner Michelle de Kretser, Hannah Kent, and former Greens leader Bob Brown, with events designed to foster community discussion, ideas, and discovery.