Amber Wilson, Tasmanian Writers’ Centre Communications Officer
Aspiring authors aged 16 to 30 will soon be taking over the nooks and crannies of Hobart’s CBD, using their atmospheric surrounds to inspire potential literary gems.
The Inaugural Young Writers in Residence Program, run in partnership between the Tasmanian Writers’ Centre and the City of Hobart, is an opportunity for writers to explore different spaces in Hobart and compose an essay between 1500 to 5000 words in an observational or experimental writing style inspired by the space they choose.
Successful applicants can choose a space from the following and agree to spend at least two or three hours a day at the space over 14 days between mid-July to mid-August: Waterside Pavillion, Town Hall, Elizabeth Street Mall, Mathers House, Youth Arts and Recreation Centre, Aquatic Centre, Gallery Ten or Hadley’s Hotel.
Quotes from the writers’ work will be displayed on the “Soapbox” billboards in Mathers Place during and after the Tasmanian Writers and Readers Festival in September. The essays will also be available online and through social media, and each of the writers will be asked to read their work during September’s festival.
“Place is so important in informing a writer’s work, so writing from a place bustling with atmosphere, history and life would certainly be a valuable experience for any young writer,” Tasmanian Writers’ Centre director Chris Gallagher said.
“So we are so fortunate to live in a city like Hobart, which really does tick all of those boxes. This is a beautiful city with a burgeoning arts scene, making it a very exciting city for young writers.”
Entries for the program close June 15. For more information or to apply, visit www.tasmanianwriters.org
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