In May 2019, Sweatshop: Western Sydney Literacy Movement released the first-ever anthology produced entirely by women of colour. In this exclusive panel discussion, Tongan-Australian editor Winnie Dunn, opens an urgent and critical dialogue with the contributors from this ground-breaking anthology. With Divya Venkataraman, Ferdous Bahar, Janette Chen and Phoebe Grainer.

In 2019, three Western Sydney writers were awarded residencies at Bankstown’s Incubate Artist Studios and their resulting essays in the Sydney Review of Books explore important questions around identity, language and history, as well as the complex relationships between place and culture. Sarah Ayoub, Kiriaki Zakinthinos (Koubaroulis) and Audrey Newton in conversation with Sheila Ngoc Pham. Presented by Bankstown Arts Centre.

The Growing Up in Australia anthologies are significant collections of well-known and new voices telling their own stories. Editors and contributors to anthologies about diverse Australian childhoods discuss their experiences and the ways writing can re-shape the world we live in. Jack Latimore, Alice Pung, Sara Saleh and Ahmed Yussuf in conversation with Benjamin Law.

A conversation about the revival and reclamation of Indigenous languages with Gamilaroi and Anaiwon writer Cathy Craigie, Gadigal poet and educator Joel Davison, Gamilaraay author and linguist Donna McLaren, and Yuwaalaraay writer and musician Nardi Simpson. This panel is dedicated to Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Wiradjuri poet, author, and activist (1956-2019).

In its annual Honouring Australian Writers series, Writing NSW pays tribute to writers who have made an important contribution to our literary culture.

In 2019 Writing NSW honoured author, playwright and scriptwriter Sumner Locke Elliott(1917-1991). Featuring archival material, clips and readings, the event featured the following speakers:

Walter Mason

Margaret Fink

Kim Knuckey

Sharon Clarke

Please note, we have edited out the video components of this recording. Clips and further material will be available on our website.

Ideas Generator, from Writing NSW's 2019 Speculative Fiction Festival.

Chaired by Margaret Morgan, with James Bradley, Michael Gillings and Elise Bohan.

Photo Credit: Anita Mathews.

Science Fiction Now, part of Writing NSW's 2019 Speculative Fiction Festival.

Chaired by Cat Sparks, with Margaret Morgan, Shauna O'Meara and Shankari Chandran.

Please note that due to microphone issues on the day, we have had to edit out some sections of this podcast.

World Building 101, from Writing NSW's 2019 Specualtive Fiction Festival.

Chaired by Festival Director Keith Stevenson with Mitchell Hogan, Catherine McKinnon and Mykaela Saunders.

Photo Credit: Anita Mathews

Panel 1 of the Writing NSW 2019 Speculative Fiction Festival: That Was Then, This is Now. Chaired by Sam Hawke and featuring Rob Hood, Kaaron Waaren and Shankari Chandran.

For further Writing NSW festivals, events and courses, visit www.writingnsw.org.au

Image Credit: Anita Mathews

On 2 April 2019, Writing NSW presented Talking Writing: Indigenous Languages. The panel was chaired by Gamilaroi and Anaiwon playwright Cathy Craigie, Gamilaraay author and linguist Donna Gayford McLaren, Gunai poet and children’s book author Kirli Saunders, Darug singer and songwriter Jacinta Tobin, and Yuwaalaraay songwriter Nardi Simpson.

The panel discussed the endangered status of most Indigenous languages, the idea of a reclamation language, current pushes for healthy speech communities, poetry’s role in language revival, and much more.

Talking Writing is Writing NSW's regular themed writing event, designed to explore the limits of what writing is and where it can take you. Keep an eye on our website for future events.