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{{short description|Annual literary festival held in Sydney, Australia}}
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The '''Sydney Writers' Festival''' ('''SWF''') is an annual [[literary festival]] held in [[Sydney]] in May, with the inaugural festival taking place in 1997. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia]].
'''Sydney Writers' Festival''' is an annual [[literary festival]] held in [[Sydney]]. The festival's [[artistic director]] is Michaela McGuire.<ref name="Convery">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/10/michaela-mcguire-will-be-new-artistic-director-of-sydney-writers-festival/|author=Convery, Stephanie|title=Michaela McGuire will be new artistic director of Sydney Writers' festival|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=10 December 2016|accessdate=1 March 2017|authorlink=Stephanie Convery}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The festival began in January 1997,<ref name="Dessaix">{{cite news|url=http://www.rapture.com.au/rapture-articles/1997/1/24/after-the-plague/|author=Dessaix, Robert|title=After The Plague|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=24 January 1997|accessdate=28 May 2011|authorlink=Robert Dessaix}}</ref><ref name="Tom-1997">{{cite news|url=http://www.sydneymotorbikes.com.au/sydney-motorbikes-articles/1997/1/11/the-best-young-australian-novelists-1997/|author=Tom, Emma|title=The Best Young Australian Novelists 1997|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 January 1997|accessdate=28 May 2011|authorlink=Emma Tom}}</ref> with most events initially held at the [[State Library of New South Wales]]. The first independent Sydney Writers' Festival ran from 12–17 May 1998, with 169 participants appearing in venues in, and around, the [[Sydney central business district|centre of Sydney]].
The festival began in January 1997,<ref name="Dessaix">{{cite news|url=http://www.rapture.com.au/rapture-articles/1997/1/24/after-the-plague/|author=Dessaix, Robert|title=After The Plague|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=24 January 1997|accessdate=28 May 2011|authorlink=Robert Dessaix}}</ref><ref name="Tom-1997">{{cite news|url=http://www.sydneymotorbikes.com.au/sydney-motorbikes-articles/1997/1/11/the-best-young-australian-novelists-1997/|author=Tom, Emma|title=The Best Young Australian Novelists 1997|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 January 1997|accessdate=28 May 2011|authorlink=Emma Tom}}</ref> with most events initially held at the [[State Library of New South Wales]]. The first independent Sydney Writers' Festival ran from 12 to 17 May 1998, with 169 participants appearing in venues in, and around, the [[Sydney central business district|centre of Sydney]].


Since then, the Festival has rapidly expanded. The Festival moved from [[Walsh Bay]] to [[Carriageworks]] in May 2018 (Walsh Bay is undergoing a major refurbishment). Events were also held at venues stretching across Sydney, from the [[City Recital Hall]] and [[Sydney Town Hall]] in the city centre, into suburban Sydney and the [[Blue Mountains, New South Wales|Blue Mountains]].
Since then, the Festival has rapidly expanded. Events have also been held at venues stretching across Sydney, including [[Roslyn Packer Theatre]], [[Sydney Town Hall]], [[City Recital Hall]], and [[Sydney Opera House]]. Events are also regularly held in regional and suburban locations including [[Parramatta]], [[Ashfield, New South Wales|Ashfield]], [[Auburn, New South Wales|Auburn]], [[Blacktown]], [[Bankstown]], [[Campbelltown, New South Wales|Campbelltown]], [[Hornsby, New South Wales|Hornsby]], [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]], [[Blue Mountains, New South Wales|Blue Mountains]] and [[Wollongong]].


The Festival moved from [[Walsh Bay]] to [[Carriageworks]] in May 2018 (as Walsh Bay was undergoing a major refurbishment).
Held mid-to-late May each year, the Festival now involves over 400 participants and presents over 300 events in renovated piers at Walsh Bay. Other festival locations include [[Roslyn Packer Theatre]], Sydney Town Hall, City Recital Hall, and [[Sydney Opera House]]. Events are also regularly held in regional and suburban locations including [[Parramatta]], [[Ashfield, New South Wales|Ashfield]], [[Auburn, New South Wales|Auburn]], [[Blacktown]], [[Bankstown]], [[Campbelltown, New South Wales|Campbelltown]], [[Hornsby, New South Wales|Hornsby]], [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]], the Blue Mountains and [[Wollongong]].


The 2020 event was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia]].<ref>[https://mumbrella.com.au/sydney-writers-festival-cancelled-for-2020-621600 Sydney Writers’ Festival cancelled for 2020] ''[[Mumbrella]]'' 17 March 2020</ref>
⚫
Approximately one-third of all Sydney Writers' Festival events are free of charge. Festival attendances have reached over 90,000 each year since 2007.


⚫
Now held mid-to-late May each year, the Festival involves over 400 participants and presents over 300 events. Approximately one-third of all Sydney Writers' Festival events are free of charge. Festival attendances have reached over 90,000 each year since 2007.{{cn|date=April 2021}}
Sydney Writers' Festival Limited is a not-for-profit company with an independent board of directors. The inaugural Chair of the Festival was [[Geraldine Doogue]], who held the position for three years. Sandra Yates AO became Chair in late 2000, retiring on 31 December 2011. Deena Shiff was the Chair 1 January 2012 through to February 2018. Mark Scott was appointed chair in February 2018. The Festival Director in 1998 was John Nieuwenhuizen, with Meredith Curnow the Program Director. Meredith Curnow became Festival Director for the period 1999–2002. Caro Llewellyn was Artistic Director and Chief executive from 2003 to 2006. Wendy Were was Artistic Director and CEO for the three festivals, from 2007 to 2009. Chip Rolley became the Festival's Artistic Director in the middle of 2009, programming the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Festivals. Jemma Birrell was the Festival's Artistic Director for the four Festivals 2013–2016. In 2016, [[Michaela McGuire]] was appointed as the Festival's new Artistic Director. Ben Strout was the Festival's Executive Director from 2009 to 2014. Jo Dyer was the Executive Director from 2015; and was promoted to CEO in November 2016, when she also joined the Festival board of directors. Chrissy Sharp was appointed as the new CEO of Sydney Writers' Festival in 2018.<ref name="Books+ Publishing">{{cite news|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2016/11/10/80867/mcguire-appointed-swf-artistic-director/|title=McGuire appointed SWF artistic director|work=Books + Publishing|date=10 November 2016|accessdate=1 March 2017}}</ref> The 2020 event was cancelled due to the [[2019–20 coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>[https://mumbrella.com.au/sydney-writers-festival-cancelled-for-2020-621600 Sydney Writers’ Festival cancelled for 2020] ''[[Mumbrella]]'' 17 March 2020</ref>

Sydney Writers' Festival Limited is a not-for-profit company with an independent board of directors.

===Chairs of SWF===
Past and present chairs of the festival include:{{cn|date=October 2022}}
*1997–2000: [[Geraldine Doogue]]
*Late 2000–Dec 2011: [[Sandra Yates]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}}
*Jan 2012–Jan 2018: Deena Shiff
*Feb 2018– : Mark Scott

===Artistic directors ===
Artistic directors for festival years include:{{cn|date=April 2021}}
*1998: John Nieuwenhuizen, with Meredith Curnow the Program Director. Meredith Curnow became Festival Director for the period *1999–2002: Meredith Curnow
*2003–2006: [[Caro Llewellyn]] (AD & CEO)
*2007-2009: Wendy Were (AD & CEO)
*2010–2012: Chip Rolley
*2013–2016: Jemma Birrell
*2017–2020: [[Michaela McGuire]] (appointed November 2016)<ref name="Books+ Publishing"/>
*2021–2022 : Michael Williams, interim director (since August 2020)<ref name=steger>{{cite web | last=Steger | first=Jason |authorlink=Jason Steger| title=Michael Williams joins Sydney Writers' Festival as interim director | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=17 August 2020 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/michael-williams-joins-sydney-writers-festival-as-interim-director-20200817-p55miu.html | access-date=1 April 2021}}</ref>
*2022– : Ann Mossop

===Executive directors===
*2009–2014: Ben Strout{{cn|date=April 2021}}
*2015: [[Jo Dyer]] ED from 2015; promoted to CEO in November 2016, when she also joined the Festival board of directors.<ref name="Books+ Publishing"/>
*2018–2021: Chrissy Sharp, CEO<ref name="Books+ Publishing">{{cite news|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2016/11/10/80867/mcguire-appointed-swf-artistic-director/|title=McGuire appointed SWF artistic director|work=Books + Publishing|date=10 November 2016|accessdate=1 March 2017}}</ref> <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-07-14|title=Sharp steps down from SWF; new head of sales, publicity manager for Hachette|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/14/189631/sharp-steps-down-from-swf-new-head-of-sales-publicity-manager-for-hachette/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}}</ref>
*2021– Brooke Webb


==Past international guests==
==Past international guests==
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*2009 – [[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie]], [[Alex Ross]], and [[Kazuo Ishiguro]]<ref name="swf2009">{{cite web | url = http://www.swf.org.au/festival-2009/ | title = Highlights from Festival 2009 | work = Festival 2009 | publisher = Sydney Writers' Festival | year = 2009 | accessdate = 24 May 2011 }}</ref>
*2009 – [[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie]], [[Alex Ross]], and [[Kazuo Ishiguro]]<ref name="swf2009">{{cite web | url = http://www.swf.org.au/festival-2009/ | title = Highlights from Festival 2009 | work = Festival 2009 | publisher = Sydney Writers' Festival | year = 2009 | accessdate = 24 May 2011 }}</ref>
*2010 – [[John Carey (critic)|John Carey]], [[Colm Tóibín]], [[Lionel Shriver]], [[Yiyun Li]], [[John Ralston Saul]], [[Bill McKibben]], and [[Raj Patel]]<ref name="swf2010">{{cite web | url = http://www.swf.org.au/festival-2010/ | title = Highlights from Festival 2010 | work = Festival 2010 | publisher = Sydney Writers' Festival | year = 2010 | accessdate = 23 May 2011 }}</ref>
*2010 – [[John Carey (critic)|John Carey]], [[Colm Tóibín]], [[Lionel Shriver]], [[Yiyun Li]], [[John Ralston Saul]], [[Bill McKibben]], and [[Raj Patel]]<ref name="swf2010">{{cite web | url = http://www.swf.org.au/festival-2010/ | title = Highlights from Festival 2010 | work = Festival 2010 | publisher = Sydney Writers' Festival | year = 2010 | accessdate = 23 May 2011 }}</ref>
*2011 – [[Ingrid Betancourt]], [[Howard Jacobson]], [[A. A. Gill]], [[Anthony Bourdain]], [[Téa Obreht]], [[Izzeldin Abuelaish]], [[Kei Miller]], [[Kader Abdolah]], [[Michael Cunningham]], [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]], [[AC Grayling]], [[Michael Connelly]], [[Gail Dines]], and [[Daniel Altman]]
*2011 – [[Ingrid Betancourt]], [[Howard Jacobson]], [[A. A. Gill]], [[Anthony Bourdain]], [[Téa Obreht]], [[Izzeldin Abuelaish]], [[Kei Miller]], [[Kader Abdolah]], [[Michael Cunningham]], [[David Mitchell (author)|David Mitchell]], [[AC Grayling]], [[Michael Connelly]], [[Gail Dines]], and Daniel Altman
*2012 – [[Hisham Matar]], [[Jeffrey Eugenides]], [[Dava Sobel]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swf.org.au/nights |title=Festival Nights |year=2012 |work=Festival 2012 | publisher = Sydney Writers' Festival | accessdate = 19 April 2012 }}</ref>
*2012 – [[Hisham Matar]], [[Jeffrey Eugenides]], [[Dava Sobel]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swf.org.au/nights |title=Festival Nights |year=2012 |work=Festival 2012 | publisher = Sydney Writers' Festival | accessdate = 19 April 2012 }}</ref>
*2013 – [[Molly Ringwald]], [[Ruby Wax]], [[Claire Messud]]<ref name=DNSW2013/>
*2013 – [[Molly Ringwald]], [[Ruby Wax]], [[Claire Messud]]<ref name=DNSW2013/>
*2014 – [[Irvine Welsh]], [[Vince Gilligan]], [[Alice Walker]]
*2014 – [[Irvine Welsh]], [[Vince Gilligan]], [[Alice Walker]]
*2015 – [[Michael Connelly]], [[Anthony Horowitz]], [[Douglas Coupland]], [[Norman Doidge]], [[Alan Cumming]], [[Atul Gawande]], [[David Walliams]], [[Michael Frayn]], [[James Patterson]] (out of season event)
*2015 – [[Michael Connelly]], [[Anthony Horowitz]], [[Douglas Coupland]], [[Norman Doidge]], [[Alan Cumming]], [[Atul Gawande]], [[David Walliams]], [[Michael Frayn]], [[James Patterson]] (out of season event)
*2016 – [[Gloria Steinem]], [[Jonathan Franzen]], [[Marlon James (novelist)|Marlon James]], [[Julian Barnes]], [[William Boyd (writer)|William Boyd]], [[Jeanette Winterson]], [[Kate Tempest]], [[Yanis Varoufakis]], [[Hanya Yanagihara]], [[Paul Muldoon]], [[Park Yeon-mi|Yeonmi Park]]
*2016 – [[Gloria Steinem]], [[Jonathan Franzen]], [[Marlon James (novelist)|Marlon James]], [[Julian Barnes]], [[William Boyd (writer)|William Boyd]], [[Jeanette Winterson]], [[Kae Tempest]], [[Yanis Varoufakis]], [[Hanya Yanagihara]], [[Paul Muldoon]], [[Park Yeon-mi|Yeonmi Park]]
*2017 – [[Anne Enright]], [[Henry Marsh (neurosurgeon)|Henry Marsh]], [[Ian Rankin]], [[George Saunders]], [[A. N. Wilson]]<ref name="SWF2017">{{cite web|title=Sydney Writers Festival 20–28 May 2017|url=https://www.swf.org.au/media/1971/swf_2017compressed.pdf|website=Sydney Writers Festival|accessdate=27 February 2018}}</ref>
*2017 – [[Anne Enright]], [[Henry Marsh (neurosurgeon)|Henry Marsh]], [[Ian Rankin]], [[George Saunders]], [[A. N. Wilson]]<ref name="SWF2017">{{cite web|title=Sydney Writers Festival 20–28 May 2017|url=https://www.swf.org.au/media/1971/swf_2017compressed.pdf|website=Sydney Writers Festival|accessdate=27 February 2018}}</ref>
*2018 – [[André Aciman]], [[Min Jin Lee]], [[Alexis Okeowo]], [[Masha Gessen]], [[Jennifer Egan]], [[Tayari Jones]]
*2018 – [[André Aciman]], [[Min Jin Lee]], [[Alexis Okeowo]], [[Masha Gessen]], [[Jennifer Egan]], [[Tayari Jones]]
*2019 – [[Fatima Bhutto]], [[Rachel Kushner]], [[Susan Orlean]], [[George Saunders]], [[Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah]], [[Meg Wolitzer]], [[Akala (rapper)|Akala]], [[Andrew Sean Greer]], [[Alexander Chee]]


==Past local guests==
==Past local guests==
Line 66: Line 94:
*2003 – [[Sonya Hartnett]], [[David Malouf]], [[Danny Katz]], [[Louis Nowra]]<ref name="swf2003"/>
*2003 – [[Sonya Hartnett]], [[David Malouf]], [[Danny Katz]], [[Louis Nowra]]<ref name="swf2003"/>
*2005 – [[Bob Carr]] and [[John Kinsella (poet)|John Kinsella]]<ref name="swf2005"/>
*2005 – [[Bob Carr]] and [[John Kinsella (poet)|John Kinsella]]<ref name="swf2005"/>
*2006 – [[Alex Miller]], [[Robert Drewe]], [[Kate Grenville]], [[Les Murray (poet)|Les Murray]], [[Tegan Bennett Daylight]], [[Peter Singer]], [[Tim Flannery]], [[Gail Jones]]<ref name="swf2006"/>
*2006 – [[Alex Miller]], [[Robert Drewe]], [[Kate Grenville]], [[Les Murray (poet)|Les Murray]], [[Tegan Bennett Daylight]], [[Peter Singer]], [[Tim Flannery]], [[Gail Jones (writer)|Gail Jones]]<ref name="swf2006"/>
*2007 – [[Raimond Gaita]]<ref name="swf2007"/>
*2007 – [[Raimond Gaita]]<ref name="swf2007"/>
*2008 – [[Mem Fox]], [[Peter van Onselen]], [[Michelle de Kretser]], [[Gail Jones]], [[Drusilla Modjeska]]<ref name="swf2008"/>
*2008 – [[Mem Fox]], [[Peter van Onselen]], [[Michelle de Kretser]], [[Gail Jones (writer)|Gail Jones]], [[Drusilla Modjeska]]<ref name="swf2008"/>
*2009 – [[Elizabeth Farrelly]]
*2009 – [[Elizabeth Farrelly]]
*2010 – [[Peter Carey (novelist)|Peter Carey]], Les Murray, Alex Miller, [[Ross Garnaut]], [[Clive Hamilton]]<ref name="swf2010"/>
*2010 – [[Peter Carey (novelist)|Peter Carey]], Les Murray, Alex Miller, [[Ross Garnaut]], [[Clive Hamilton]]<ref name="swf2010"/>
Line 78: Line 106:
*2016 – [[Elizabeth Harrower (writer)|Elizabeth Harrower]], [[Anna Funder]], [[Magda Szubanski]], [[Stan Grant (journalist)|Stan Grant]], [[Kerry O'Brien (journalist)|Kerry O'Brien]], [[Bob Brown]], [[Charlotte Wood]]
*2016 – [[Elizabeth Harrower (writer)|Elizabeth Harrower]], [[Anna Funder]], [[Magda Szubanski]], [[Stan Grant (journalist)|Stan Grant]], [[Kerry O'Brien (journalist)|Kerry O'Brien]], [[Bob Brown]], [[Charlotte Wood]]
*2017 – [[Julia Baird (journalist)|Julia Baird]], [[Jimmy Barnes]], [[Peter Corris]], [[Clementine Ford (writer)|Clementine Ford]], [[Liane Moriarty]]<ref name="SWF2017" />
*2017 – [[Julia Baird (journalist)|Julia Baird]], [[Jimmy Barnes]], [[Peter Corris]], [[Clementine Ford (writer)|Clementine Ford]], [[Liane Moriarty]]<ref name="SWF2017" />
*2018 – [[Michelle de Kretser]], [[Jane Harper]], [[Helen Garner]], [[Christos Tsiolkas]], [[Julia Gillard]]<ref name="SWF2018" />
*2018 – [[Michelle de Kretser]], [[Jane Harper]], [[Helen Garner]], [[Christos Tsiolkas]], [[Julia Gillard]]
*2019
*2021- [[Melissa Lucashenko]], Tara June Winch, Evelyn Araluen (Opening Night)
*2022
*2023 - [[Alexis Wright]], Patrick Abboud, Thomas Hedley, Kate McClymont, [[Ghassan Hage]]


==Closing address==
==Closing address==
*2011 [[James Gleick]] 'Perish the thought'
*2011 [[James Gleick]] 'Perish the thought'
*2012 [[Dava Sobel]]
*2012 [[Dava Sobel]]
*2013 [[Claire Messud]]<ref name=DNSW2013>{{cite web | last =Haroldson | first =Peter | title =Sydney Writers’ Festival 2013 | work =Sydney Life | publisher =Destination New South Wales | url =http://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/arts-and-culture/sydney-writers-festival-2013/ | accessdate =18 December 2013 }}</ref>
*2013 [[Claire Messud]]<ref name=DNSW2013>{{cite web | last =Haroldson | first =Peter | title =Sydney Writers' Festival 2013 | work =Sydney Life | publisher =Destination New South Wales | url =http://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/arts-and-culture/sydney-writers-festival-2013/ | accessdate =18 December 2013 }}</ref>
*2014 [[Emma Donoghue]]
*2014 [[Emma Donoghue]]
*2015 [[Helen Macdonald (writer)|Helen Macdonald]]
*2015 [[Helen Macdonald (writer)|Helen Macdonald]]
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*2017 [[Susan Faludi]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 Closing Address : Susan Faludi|url=https://www.swf.org.au/festivals/festival-2017/2017-closing-address-susan-faludi/|website=Sydney Writers Festival|accessdate=27 February 2018}}</ref>
*2017 [[Susan Faludi]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 Closing Address : Susan Faludi|url=https://www.swf.org.au/festivals/festival-2017/2017-closing-address-susan-faludi/|website=Sydney Writers Festival|accessdate=27 February 2018}}</ref>
*2018 [[Jennifer Egan]]
*2018 [[Jennifer Egan]]
*2019 [[Fatima Bhutto]]
*2020
*2021
*2022
*2023 Richard Flanagan


==Organisational structure==
==Organisational structure==
The Festival is organised by the artistic director [[Michaela McGuire]], with the support of the CEO Chrissy Sharp, who both report to the Board of Sydney Writers' Festival. In 2018 the directors of the Festival are<ref>{{cite web|title=Board|url=https://www.swf.org.au/about-us/board/|website=Sydney Writers Festival|accessdate=27 February 2018}}</ref>:
The festival is led by CEO Brooke Webb and programmed by the Artistic Director, Michael Williams.<ref>{{cite web|title=Executive office |url=https://www.swf.org.au/about-us/staff/ |website=Sydney Writers Festival|accessdate=22 March 2022 }}</ref>
*[[Mark Scott (businessman)|Mark Scott]] (Chair)
*Nikki Christer
*[[Annabel Crabb]]
*Jo Dyer
*Amelia Lester
*Lena Nahlous
*Kathy Shand
*[[Emile Sherman]]
*Su-Ming Wong


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 08:57, 23 September 2024

Sydney Writers' Festival
GenreLiterary festival
BeginsMay
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Years active27
Inaugurated1997
Participants300
Attendance100,000
Websitewww.swf.org.au

The Sydney Writers' Festival (SWF) is an annual literary festival held in Sydney in May, with the inaugural festival taking place in 1997. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

History

[edit]

The festival began in January 1997,[1][2] with most events initially held at the State Library of New South Wales. The first independent Sydney Writers' Festival ran from 12 to 17 May 1998, with 169 participants appearing in venues in, and around, the centre of Sydney.

Since then, the Festival has rapidly expanded. Events have also been held at venues stretching across Sydney, including Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney Town Hall, City Recital Hall, and Sydney Opera House. Events are also regularly held in regional and suburban locations including Parramatta, Ashfield, Auburn, Blacktown, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Hornsby, Penrith, Blue Mountains and Wollongong.

The Festival moved from Walsh Bay to Carriageworks in May 2018 (as Walsh Bay was undergoing a major refurbishment).

The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[3]

Now held mid-to-late May each year, the Festival involves over 400 participants and presents over 300 events. Approximately one-third of all Sydney Writers' Festival events are free of charge. Festival attendances have reached over 90,000 each year since 2007.[citation needed]

Sydney Writers' Festival Limited is a not-for-profit company with an independent board of directors.

Chairs of SWF

[edit]

Past and present chairs of the festival include:[citation needed]

Artistic directors

[edit]

Artistic directors for festival years include:[citation needed]

  • 1998: John Nieuwenhuizen, with Meredith Curnow the Program Director. Meredith Curnow became Festival Director for the period *1999–2002: Meredith Curnow
  • 2003–2006: Caro Llewellyn (AD & CEO)
  • 2007-2009: Wendy Were (AD & CEO)
  • 2010–2012: Chip Rolley
  • 2013–2016: Jemma Birrell
  • 2017–2020: Michaela McGuire (appointed November 2016)[4]
  • 2021–2022 : Michael Williams, interim director (since August 2020)[5]
  • 2022– : Ann Mossop

Executive directors

[edit]
  • 2009–2014: Ben Strout[citation needed]
  • 2015: Jo Dyer ED from 2015; promoted to CEO in November 2016, when she also joined the Festival board of directors.[4]
  • 2018–2021: Chrissy Sharp, CEO[4] [6]
  • 2021– Brooke Webb

Past international guests

[edit]

Past guests have included:

Past local guests

[edit]

Closing address

[edit]

Organisational structure

[edit]

The festival is led by CEO Brooke Webb and programmed by the Artistic Director, Michael Williams.[25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dessaix, Robert (24 January 1997). "After The Plague". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b Tom, Emma (11 January 1997). "The Best Young Australian Novelists 1997". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  3. ^ Sydney Writers’ Festival cancelled for 2020 Mumbrella 17 March 2020
  4. ^ a b c "McGuire appointed SWF artistic director". Books + Publishing. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  5. ^ Steger, Jason (17 August 2020). "Michael Williams joins Sydney Writers' Festival as interim director". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Sharp steps down from SWF; new head of sales, publicity manager for Hachette". Books+Publishing. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Alan Duff on Both Sides of the Moon". Book Talk on Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 May 1999. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Program Summaries and Transcripts". Books and Writing on Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1999. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Events". Festival News 2002. University of Technology Sydney. 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Program Summaries and Transcripts". Books and Writing on Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2002. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Highlights from Festival 2003". Festival 2003. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2003. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Highlights from Festival 2004". Festival 2004. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2004. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Highlights from Festival 2005". Festival 2005. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Highlights from Festival 2006". Festival 2006. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Highlights from Festival 2007". Festival 2007. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  16. ^ a b "Highlights from Festival 2008". Festival 2008. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Highlights from Festival 2009". Festival 2009. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  18. ^ a b "Highlights from Festival 2010". Festival 2010. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  19. ^ "Festival Nights". Festival 2012. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  20. ^ a b c Haroldson, Peter. "Sydney Writers' Festival 2013". Sydney Life. Destination New South Wales. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  21. ^ a b "Sydney Writers Festival 20–28 May 2017" (PDF). Sydney Writers Festival. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Program Summaries and Transcripts". Books and Writing on Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2001. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  23. ^ "Highlights". Festival 2012. Sydney Writers' Festival. 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  24. ^ "2017 Closing Address : Susan Faludi". Sydney Writers Festival. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Executive office". Sydney Writers Festival. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
[edit]
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