Report recommends changes to Literature Board publisher funding
A new report prepared for the Literature Board of the Australia Council of the Arts by researchers at the Writing and Society Research Group at the University of Western Sydney...
Australian Poetry Centre and Poets Union to join forces
The Australian Poetry Centre and the Poets Union will merge to form a national organisation at the start of 2011. The two organisations will join forces as of the 1...
Literature Board considers overhaul of publisher funding
The Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts is considering an overhaul of the way funding is allocated to local publishers. Director of the Literature Board Susan Hayes...
New website brings together top Australian literary magazines
An initiative of the Australia Council, the newly launched website www.litmags.com.au brings together details about 10 Australian literary magazines. The titles featured on the website, which was launched today, are...
Blacklock, Glover appointed to OzCo Lit Board
Dyan Blacklock and Stuart Glover have been appointed to the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts. Blacklock is an author and publisher (at Omnibus Books) and a...
Quote of the week
'Literature is [...] popular, with seven per cent of people writing a novel or short story, and five per cent of people have written poetry--that's almost 900,000 Australians writing poems!'--Australia Council CEO Kathy...
Magabala Books to receive ‘substantial long-term funding’
Magabala Books is among 10 'outstanding Indigenous arts and cultural organisations' that will receive substantial long-term funding under the National Indigenous Arts Infrastructure Program. Magabala Books will receive $200,000 annually...
Digital Publishing Seminar in Australia
The Australian Publishers Association has announced it will host a digital publishing seminar in Australia early next year, as a new joint initiative with the Australia Council for the Arts. The seminar,...
Haskell replaces Salusinszky as chair of Literature Board
Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the appointment of Dennis Haskell as chair of the Australia Council Literature Board, for a three-year term. Haskell replaces Imre Salusinszky to who Garrett...
In brief
New Zealand retailer The Warehouse goes online The Warehouse is offering online shopping within New Zealand, starting with books, DVDs, CDs, game software and gift cards. Chief executive Ian Morrice...
In brief
Bologna drops to three days in 2010Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2010 will drop from four to three days, reports Publisher's Weekly. Fair manager Roberta Chinni said the fair was...
Australia Council announces new publishing mentorships
The Australia Council has opened two new opportunities for young and emerging publishers. During a paid 18-month mentorship, successful candidates will work alongside publishing teams at Text Publishing and Fremantle...
Australia Council announces new residencies program
The Australia Council has announced a new initiative to support artists in creating residencies with non-arts businesses and industries. Connections Residency program is open to artists in all disciplines, including...
ACLA board formed, funding secured
As previously reported in WBN, the new Australian Children's Literature Alliance (ACLA) has been formed to promote children's literature. The Alliance will seek a national children's laureate, which it hopes to...
In brief
Australians chart well in UK for 2008Several Australian authors did well in the UK in 2008. The Bookseller reports that Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden (A&U) was number 11 in...
ASA, Australia Council announce emerging writers partnership
In 2009 the Australian Society or Authors (ASA) will be responsible for administering the Australia Council's support for emerging writers under a new partnership. The support program, to be known...
VIP Program: Heyward and Darling step down; Duffy and Hamley appointed
UQP publisher Madonna Duffy, and literary agent Sophie Hamley of the Cameron Creswell Agency have joined the Visiting International Publishers (VIP) program committee. They join Fiona Henderson, consulting publisher at...
In brief
Lanagan, Jones appointed to Literature BoardFederal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the appointment of two authors to the Australia Council Literature Board. Margo Lanagan, widely known for her short...
OzCo makes publisher travel funding ‘more flexible’
The Australia Council for the Arts has announced changes to make the travel funding it provides to publishers ‘more flexible.' BOOKED: International Travel Fund for Publishers and Literary Agents is...
OzCo committed to supporting ‘the literary sector’
The Australia Council's market development section has reiterated its commitment to ‘an increased investment in literature that responds to the growth and current momentum of the Australian literary sector.'VIPs supportedOzCo...