The Victorian literary sector and the broader community are invited to help shape the first statewide Literature Strategy, which is being developed by the Victorian Government in partnership with The Wheeler Centre.
An online consultation session, run by Correa Consulting, will be held on Monday 26 October at 9.30am – 11am. This consultation will help inform the strategy and strengthen Victoria's literary sector into the future. Register for the session here.
At a time of changing technologies, declining literacy levels and the diversity of ways people now share and connect with stories, this strategy will champion writing, reading, publishing and bookselling across Victoria.
Globally recognised for its literary achievements and publishing excellence, Victoria is home to acclaimed authors, poets and writers across all genres and is a major national hub for book publishing. State Library Victoria is the third most visited public library in the world. Victoria’s network of more than 50 public library services reaches every corner of the state.
The strategy is being developed by the Victorian Government in partnership with The Wheeler Centre working with Dr John Daley and Dr Rebecca Coates of Correa Consulting and an industry advisory group comprising:
- Co-chairs: Erin Vincent, CEO, The Wheeler Centre and Zack Buchanan, Director of Policy and Industry Development, Creative Victoria
- Angela Savage, CEO, Public Libraries Victoria
- David Ryding, Director, City of Literature Office
- Tony Birch, Writer and Boisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of Melbourne
- Alice Pung, Author and Adjunct Professor, RMIT
- Maxine Beneba Clarke, Author and Poet
- Lauren Bialkower, Director, Creative Melbourne, City of Melbourne
- Susannah Bowen, CEO, Australian Booksellers Association
- Anna Burkey, CEO, Australia Reads
- Wenona Byrne, Director, Writing Australia
- Stuart Glover, Head of Policy, Australian Publishers Association
- Leanne Hall, Author and Director, Australian Society of Authors
- Roxanne Missingham, Director of Collections, State Library Victoria
The strategy will focus on ways to boost reading, writing and engagement with Australian stories, strengthen career and employment pathways for writers, sustain and grow literary businesses, events and markets and leverage Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature for the benefit of all Victorians.
An initiative of the government’s creative industries strategy Creative State 2028, the Victorian Literature Strategy will be released in 2027. Visit The Wheeler Centre website for more information