In Summary

  • Swinburne Writers Festival is a two day event held from 24-25 May
  • It will feature Swinburne staff and external writers

The art of writing is being celebrated at Swinburne with the Swinburne Writers Festival, a two day event that showcases the extraordinary talents of the university’s writing-related teachers and students.

Running May 24 – 25, for the second year, Swinburne will host an array of free panels and workshops that are open to the general public, with the event providing invaluable networking opportunities for writers of all levels.

The festival continues into June, with Swinburne running two events at the Emerging Writers Festival, including a Spirit of Punk open reading.

One of the lead festival organisers and professional writing teacher, Nicolas Brasch, describes writing being at the heart of all professions.

“While it's obviously critical to creative and professional writers, everyone has a story to tell. I have found that the people who reach the top of their field, no matter what that field is, are those best able to tell stories and communicate,” Mr Brasch says.

“People will be blown away by the talent, experience and other lives of the panellists and workshop facilitators – many of whom teach at Swinburne and have also been very successful writers in many different fields.”

Carolyn Beasley, Course Director of Writing in the Department of Media and Communication, is excited at the high quality of authors that audiences will get to experience at the festival.

“We have a great mix of well-published staff and external writers appearing. Swinburne staff include children’s author Mark Carthew, best-selling novelist James Phelan and Nicolas Brasch. External writers include famous poet Alicia Sometimes and awarding winning writers Veronica Sullivan, Nicki Greenberg and Hazel Edwards,” Dr Beasley says.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to be able to meet them and talk about the writing life.”

Swinburne’s Head of Department for Design, Media & ICT, Simona Jobbagy, says the festival was another example of the industry links available to students studying at Swinburne.

“Our vocational education courses have always had a strong industry focus, which is clear by the calibre of speakers appearing at the Swinburne Writers Festival,” Ms Jobbagy says.

“The festival is also a fantastic opportunity for our students to have their work featured publicly and to collaborate with members of the writing community.”

The events also spill out of the campus into the Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery, with an exhibition of sculptures made from books and other recycled materials called ‘Book Works’ by artist Jodie Goldring and readings from award winning poet Dominique Hecq

The Swinburne Writers Festival takes place as part of the 2016 Emerging Writer’s Festival, which is Australia’s premier festival for new and emerging writers.

Find out more and register to attend the Swinburne Writers Festival