Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh today forecast a healthy future for Queensland writing with the launch of a new collaborative initiative to connect writers, readers and ideas.
“With the five-day Brisbane Writers Festival opening today and the 2009 Queensland Premier’s Literary Award winners named last night it’s the perfect time to recognise the power of writing through this new initiative, A State of Writing,” said Ms Bligh.
“A State of Writing is a program that pools the talents of the Queensland Writers Centre; Book Links; Queensland Poetry Festival and the Children’s Book Council of Australia combining to form a writing hub at the State Library of Queensland.
“These organisations will work in collaboration with the State Library to add depth and scale to reading and writing activities across the State.”
The program follows the State Government’s $400,000 investment in the relocation of Queensland Writers Centre to the State Library of Queensland building at the Cultural Centre South Bank which will be completed in early 2010.
“This means A State of Writing will be a physical hub, to create exciting, engaging and progressive writing opportunities and to extend the network of participants across our state,” said the Premier.
Ms Bligh said one of the first outcomes for A State of Writing will be a panel of shortlisted and winning authors of the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards featuring prominently on panel discussions and workshops at the Brisbane Writers Festival.
“It is great to see the winners and shortlisted writers from the Literary Awards participating in the wonderful vitality of the Brisbane Writers Festival,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is the kind of energy that will be tapped year-round with initiatives developed through A State of Writing.
“This is a new partnership model for Queensland with my government providing a platform to encourage writing and reading in Queensland.
“This program is in line with my Toward Q2 vision for a strong and diverse economy powered by bright ideas.”
For information about the Brisbane Writers Festival: www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au
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