SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL LAUNCHES YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM IN LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP

State Library of NSW and NSW Government back 70+ new Sydney Writers’ Festival literary events.

Sydney Writers’ Festival today introduces a landmark partnership with the State Library of NSW, supported by the NSW Government, to deliver a new year-round program of literary events in addition to its annual Festival, beginning this September.

The partnership will create a dedicated literature hub in Sydney, providing a dynamic, year-round home for storytelling. It will boost participation in literary events, embed reading and writing into Sydney’s cultural identity, and deliver a diverse program of events, workshops and readings. The initiative will also support global literary exchange and nurture emerging talent through appearances by international and local authors. Crucially, it will provide an inclusive and accessible platform for NSW’s diverse communities, amplifying underrepresented voices and strengthening the connection between writers and readers.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said, “In Australia, writers earn on average $18,500 per year, yet reading and writing are vital to our personal wellbeing, and to our collective prosperity. The NSW Government is pleased to support this partnership between the Sydney Writers’ Festival and the State Library of NSW. 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.

“This $1.5 million 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. This investment is the first step in our upcoming writing and literature strategy – the first time an Australian government has put together a comprehensive strategy to support the writing and literature sector.”

Sydney Writers’ Festival CEO Brooke Webb said, “Sydney Writers’ Festival is proud to partner with the State Library of NSW — a relationship that began almost 30 years ago, when some of our earliest events were held there. This new chapter allows us to extend the spirit of the Festival year-round, engaging

loyal audiences and inviting new readers to discover the power of books, stories, and ideas. United by a shared commitment to literature and learning, we’re working together to champion more writers, inspire readers, and nurture vibrant literary communities across NSW.”

State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon said, “As the home of reading, research and creativity in NSW, the State Library is pleased to be partnering with Sydney Writers’ Festival to enhance our state’s cultural offering and deepen our commitment to making literature and storytelling more accessible, inclusive and engaging for all. We’re excited to welcome new and familiar visitors through our doors and continue to offer unforgettable experiences all year round.”

The first series of events, announced today and available for presale from 30 July, will bring some of the most exciting Australian and international voices to the Library Auditorium. Highlights include Stella Prize winner Michelle de Kretser, 2025 Festival favourite Hannah Kent, former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, and Happy Endings with Melanie Saward and Saman Shad.

The first series of events can be found online at swf.org.au. Book lovers are encouraged to sign up to the Sydney Writers’ Festival eNews for exclusive presale tickets. Visit the website for more information.

ABOUT SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
Sydney Writers’ Festival is one of the world’s leading literary festivals, taking place in May each year. Since 1997, it has brought together acclaimed authors, thinkers, and audiences for a week of storytelling, ideas, and cultural exchange. The Festival is committed to inclusion, accessibility, and nurturing Australian writing in all its forms.

To learn more and explore upcoming events, visit swf.org.au.

EVENTS ANNOUNCED 27 JULY 2025

Michelle de Kretser: Theory & Practice | 18 September 2025
Join Michelle de Krester, one of Australia’s most celebrated writers and the winner of the 2025 Stella Prize, to uncover her latest genre-bending work. Unpacking jealousy and desire, truth and shame, and what a novel can achieve, Michelle discusses Theory & Practice with Malcolm Knox.

Happy Endings with Melanie Saward and Saman Shad | 25 September 2025
Melanie Sawad and Saman Shad discuss their latest novels, Love Unleashed and The Sex Lives of Married Women, charting contemporary love and the art of writing romance for the modern age. Together, they talk chance encounters, cultural identity, female friendship and how to find a happy ending in this swoon-worthy session.

Hannah Kent: Always Home, Always Homesick | 2 October 2025
In 2003, 17-year-old Australian exchange student Hannah Kent arrives at Keflavík Airport in the middle of the Icelandic winter. Always Home, Always Homesick is Hannah’s exquisite love letter to a land that has forged a nation of storytellers, her ode to the transcendent power of creativity, and her invitation to us all to join her in the realms of mystery, spirit and wonder.

Bob Brown: Defiance | 10 October 2025
Former leader of the Australian Greens, Bob Brown, has been standing up to those who would put profit before planet for half a century. In his new book, Defiance, he draws on his experience to inspire a new generation of individual and collective action. Consider the challenges facing nature’s defenders and reflect on the motivations to keep fighting for our planet. Be galvanised by Bob’s warmth and humour in this timely conversation.