This November we are welcoming ten writers from across the UNESCO City of Literature network to Melbourne! From poets to playwrights, this program, run by the Melbourne City of Literature office, will introduce Melbourne’s vibrant and varied literary community to writers across the world.
Residents will be working with Melbourne literary organisations, ranging from the largest of our literary institutions, to the smallest of our regional writing collectives. The writers will deliver a variety of work for each organisation ranging from writing commissions, to social media takeovers to digital workshops.
The organisations taking part and their Writer in Residence are:
- Australian Poetry will be working with Russian poet Gala Uzryutova on a range of commissions for our annual publication and literary festivals program.
- Blarney Books & Art is working with Polish essayist, literary critic and editor Maciej Jakubowiak to connect the rural writing community Port Fairy with Krakow.
- Emerging Writers’ Festival is connecting with Scottish writer Rebecca Ferrier through a range of peer-led workshops and feedback sessions.
- Warrnambool Contemporary Arts Collective The F Project is working with Leanne Moden from Birmingham on a range of poetry projects.
- Melbourne Writers’ Theatre is working with Mancurian playwright Naomi Sumner.
- State Library Victoria is working with create content to help the general public to discover curiosities and treasures from the State Collection online.
- The Little Bookroom has Melbourne writer Mat Larkin in residence to use their store to celebrate children’s literature.
- The Prahran Mechanics’ Institute Victorian History Library is working with Melbourne writer Karys McEwen to interpret their library collection.
- Stella is welcoming Mancurian poet afshan d’souza-lodhi to help celebrate the inclusion of poetry in this years prize.
- Writers Victoria is working with Nottingham writer Jo Weston to engage with their community of writers, write for their member magazine ‘The Victorian Writer’, and deliver a workshop.
Look for these writers popping up all over Melbourne this November by following the hashtag #VirtualWriterInResidence on social media. We’ll also be posting updates on our website and newsletter.