Literature news

Australia Council mourns John Hooker - 30 April 2008

The Australia Council for the Arts today expressed its sadness at the passing of writer and publisher John Hooker.

Australia Council launches innovative art project in Second Life - 11 April 2008

Australia Council chairman James Strong AO tonight will take avatar form to officially launch an exciting new artwork in the virtual world of Second Life - the result of a groundbreaking Australia Council for the Arts residency.

Digital publishing research - call for industry feedback - 12 March 2008

A new research project from the Australia Council for the Arts and Copyright Agency Ltd requires input from Australian publishers.

Guides to help do the right thing with Indigenous culture - 28 February 2008

The Australia Council for the Arts has released a fully revised second edition of its protocol guides to help Australians better understand the use of Indigenous cultural material.

Critically acclaimed writers honoured with top literary prize - 11 February 2008

Two eminent Australian authors - Christopher Koch AO and Gerald Murnane - will be honoured with Australia Council for the Arts’ writers’ emeritus awards at a ceremony in Melbourne today.

Australia Council mourns P P McGuinness - 29 January 2008

The Australia Council for the Arts today expressed its sadness at the passing of editor and columnist Padraic Pearse McGuinness.

Books Alive project director appointed - 11 January 2008

Cheryl Akle has been appointed project director of Books Alive, Australia's largest promotion of books and reading.

Applications open for editor mentorship program - 10 January 2008

Mid-career editors are welcome to apply to the residential editorial program, a partnership between the Australia Council for the Arts and the Australian Publishers Association.

Books Alive project director - Brett Osmond - 31 October 2007

The Australia Council for the Arts congratulates Brett Osmond on his appointment as marketing director at Random House.

Australia Council welcomes more Ozlit in NSW schools - 23 October 2007

The Australia Council for the Arts today welcomed moves by the New South Wales Government to strengthen the study of Australian literature in primary and secondary schools.

Frankfurt push to get more Australians read - 10 October 2007

Australia's largest ever presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair is pushing to get more Australians read throughout the world.

Little Aussie Readers - 19 September 2007

The Australia Council is proud to support today's launch of the Vegemite Little Aussie Reader program.

Eight new teams take stories to lab - 04 September 2007

Eight digital media projects have been selected for the second LAMP: Story of the Future Residential Lab, to be held on South Stradbroke Island, Queensland from 7 to 13 November 2007.

Communiqué - Australian Literature in Education Roundtable - 07 August 2007

The Australia Council for the Arts hosted a roundtable discussion on the study of Australian literature in schools and universities on Tuesday 7 August, including 20 eminent authors, publishers, teachers and academics.

Expert panel explores Australian literature in education - 01 August 2007

The Australia Council for the Arts will host a roundtable discussion on the study of Australian literature in schools and universities on Tuesday 7 August.

A story of the future in Second Life - 30 July 2007

Thursday's Fictions, one of eight projects from the LAMP: Story of the Future Residential Lab held in May, has debuted on Second Life.

Book promotion spreads the word on reading - 24 July 2007

Australia’s largest promotion of books and reading, Books Alive 2007, will encourage more Australians to discover the joys of reading over the coming month.

Publishing seminar examines digital future - 18 July 2007

Over 100 publishing representatives attended the Australia Council's Publishing the Story of the Future seminar.

Australian authors top influential publishers shopping list - 28 May 2007

Twelve leading international publishers are scouting for Australian literary talent as part of the 10th annual Visiting International Publishers (VIP) program.

Australia Council invites artists to get a Second Life - 22 May 2007

The Australia Council for the Arts today announced a $20,000 grant for a collaborative artist residency in the 3D online virtual world of Second Life.

Getting words to the world - 15 May 2007

The Australia Council for the Arts supports Australian writers to appear at local and international literary festivals.

Eight teams take their stories to new domains - 30 April 2007

Eight storytelling teams have been selected to take part in the LAMP: Story of the Future Residential Lab, a five-day program to develop digital content projects.

Peter Fitzsimons - Books Alive Ambassador 2007 - 03 March 2007

Books Alive is pleased to announce Peter FitzSimons as the ambassador for its fifth national campaign running from Wednesday 25 July to Friday 31 August 2007.

Vale Elizabeth Jolley - 20 February 2007

With the death of Elizabeth Jolley Australia has lost a unique voice.

The game begins for innovative digital writing program - 27 November 2006

An innovative initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts and AFTRS to develop new Australian voices for digital media commences with seminars in Melbourne and Sydney.

Literature and music fellowships announced - 10 November 2006

Four outstanding artists have been awarded fellowships by the Australia Council's literature and music boards.

National script development organisation takes shape - 06 November 2006

A new national organisation to develop great new Australian writing for performance - PlayWriting Australia - has been created.

Two Australians make Booker shortlist - 15 September 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts congratulates two Australian writers – Kate Grenville and MJ Hyland – on making the shortlist of the 2006 Man Booker Prize.

Australia Council mourns Colin Thiele - 05 September 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts mourns the passing of celebrated author Colin Thiele, who created the children’s classic Storm Boy.

Booker prize longlist recognises Australian writing talent - 22 August 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts congratulates the three Australian novelists who have made the longlist for the 2006 Man Booker Prize - Peter Carey, Kate Grenville and MJ Hyland.

Vale Lisa Bellear - 28 July 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts honours the life of Aboriginal artist Lisa Marie Bellear, a Minjungbul woman from Stradbroke Island, Queensland.

Australia’s biggest book reading promotion comes alive - 26 July 2006

Australians of all ages are being encouraged to explore the world of books with the launch today of Australia’s biggest promotion of books and reading - Books Alive 2006.

Australia Council congratulates Miles Franklin winner - 26 June 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts congratulates Roger McDonald, who took out this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award for The Ballad of Desmond Kale.

National funds help little book club get a whole lot bigger - 19 June 2006

A $330,000 funding boost from the Australia Council for the Arts will encourage reading for toddlers by growing South Australia’s Little Big Book Club nationwide.

Chair of literature board appointed - 16 June 2006

Dr Imre Salusinszky has been appointed chair of the Council's literature board until June 2009.

Aboriginal author adds to life story with top literary award - 26 May 2006

Eminent Aboriginal author and historian Dr Ruby Langford Ginibi has been honoured with the 2005 Australia Council for the Arts Writers Emeritus Award.

Montpellier literary festival puts spotlight on Australia - 19 May 2006

A delegation of 10 prominent Australian writers will give French bibliophiles a taste of our unique literary culture at this year's Comedie du Livre between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 May.

Leading international publishers to get VIP treatment - 17 May 2006

Leading international publishers and film agents will be in Sydney next week scouting for new Australian titles and books for film for overseas markets.

New national approach to writing for performance - 01 May 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts has announced increased funding and a new approach to supporting national script development for theatre.

Australian artists’ incomes to get multi-million dollar boost - 06 April 2006

The Australia Council for the Arts will invest more than $2.8 million to increase the earnings of Australian artists.

Aboriginal playwrights tread the boards in Paris - 03 February 2006

Three Aboriginal playwrights had staged readings of their works held at the Louvre as part of a week-long celebration of Pacific writers.

New Australian Stories edge closer to the stage - 02 December 2005

The Australia Council for the Arts has announced additional funding for three projects initially provided with seed funding through its New Australian Stories initiative.

Hell Island joins World Book Day 2006 star line-up - 10 October 2005

Australian Matthew Reilly's book Hell Island, which was specially commissioned by Books Alive, has been selected for the UK's World Book Day 2006.

Australia Council mourns the passing of Donald Horne AO - 08 September 2005

The Australia Council for the Arts is saddened by the death of eminent Australian writer and academic Donald Horne.

Australia Council mourns Dr Margaret Scott - 30 August 2005

The Australia Council mourns the loss of one of Australia's best-known poets, writers, academics and broadcasters, Dr Margaret Scott.

Books Alive 2005 is launched - 28 July 2005

Senator the Hon. Rod Kemp, Minister for the Arts and Sport, officially launched Books Alive 2005 at a public event this morning at Westfield Miranda in Sydney, and Ms Deborah Thomas, Editorial Director of The Australian Women's Weekly, launched Hell Island, the new short novel by Matthew Reilly, written exclusively for Books Alive 2005.

Director of literature appointed - 08 July 2005

Josie Emery has been appointed as the Australia Council's director of literature.

J Arts Crew revealed - 05 July 2005

From August 2005, the J ARTS CREW will begin broadcasting on ABC Radio's Triple J network.

Literary icon wins major award - 06 April 2005

Renowned poet and writer, Dr Margaret Scott, was today awarded the Australia Council Writers' Emeritus award for a significant contribution to the arts over a long and productive career.