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Melbourne Writers Festival moves to State Library Victoria

Media release

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Tuesday 05 February 2019


Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) and State Library Victoria today announced a major partnership that will see our city’s biggest and best literary arts festival take up residence in Australia’s busiest library.

The creation of new public spaces as part of State Library Victoria’s ambitious Vision 2020 redevelopment will now make it possible for the Library and adjacent venues to accommodate a festival with the scope and scale of MWF.

MWF CEO Shona Barrett said: “The partnership is at the heart of a new vision for MWF to be anchored in the literary precinct of our UNESCO City of Literature.”

“This is the culmination of many conversations over a number of years around our shared vision of open and inviting programming for all. MWF audiences will connect with this wonderful civic and cultural destination that attracts more than two million visitors a year.”

The move establishes the Library as the heart of a new festival precinct, which will include venues in the Wheeler Centre, the iconic Capitol Theatre in partnership with ACMI, and other nearby spaces.

State Library Victoria CEO Kate Torney said the organisations shared a vision to inspire and create a setting in which people from all backgrounds feel welcome.

“The Library is thrilled to be partnering with MWF to become the new home of Australia’s favourite literary festival. Centring the programming in the literary precinct will not only strengthen our mutual commitment to education, literacy, learning and creativity, it will also cement this thriving part of the city as the place to be during MWF,” Ms Torney said.

“The partnership will bring new audiences to our magnificent Library, which is being transformed to meet the changing needs of our visitors.”

State Library Victoria has been home to some of MWF’s most successful events in recent years and Melbourne readers will be inspired and delighted by events programmed in and around the Library in 2019. MWF will connect creatively with the many writers who use the Library, the Wheeler Centre and its resident organisations.

Over the course of the multi-year partnership, more exciting new spaces will be unveiled when the Library’s $88.1 million Vision 2020 project is completed in late spring 2019.

The relocation reflects MWF's commitment to deepen connections with festival audiences by being accessible and inclusive, to showcase the work of writers through innovative literary arts programs, and to pursue new opportunities for site-specific creative projects that utilise State collections, digital technology and creative facilities.