A new chapter for readers and writers at the State Library with the Sydney Writers Festival hub
Sunday, 27 July 2025
Readers and writers across the state will benefit from a $1.5 million investment to establish a dedicated literature hub in Sydney, providing a dynamic, year-round home for storytelling.
The partnership between the Sydney Writers Festival and the State Library of NSW will deliver a new continuous program of literary events in addition to its annual Festival, beginning this September 2025.
The $1.5 million initiative is the first part of a sector-wide strategy to position writing and literature at the heart of NSWs’ cultural, educational, and economic life.
Supported by world-class publishers, a depth of writing talent, and a network of festivals, libraries, schools, booksellers and literary organisations. The initiative will create over 300 paid opportunities for local writers over 12 months and offering exceptional events, many of them free.
“The list of writers who have called NSW home stretches from iconic figures such as Patrick White, Christina Stead and Tom Keneally to contemporary global superstars like Anna Funder, Markus Zusak, Charlotte McConaghy, Tara June Winch and Aaron Blabey. The strategy, an Australian first, will recognize NSW is home to a rich and dynamic literary ecosystem.”
The partnership between the Sydney Writers Festival and the State Library of NSWwill 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.
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.
Minister for 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.”
