Writers SA

Writers' organisation in Adelaide, South Australia

Writers SA

Formation| 1985; 39 years ago (1985)
Founders| Andrew Taylor, and others
Type| Nonprofit
Legal status| Charity
Headquarters| State Library of South Australia (Institute Building)
Location|

* Adelaide, Australia

Region served

| South Australia
Products| Writers' resources
Services| Information, advice
Methods| Workshops, professional referral service
Fields| Creative and other writing

Director

| Jessica Alice

Chair

| Amanda Grocock

Deputy Chair

| Jane Howard
Publication| Southern Write
Website| writerssa.org.au

Formerly called

| South Australian Writers' Centre
SLSA Institute building

Writers SA, registered as SA Writers' Centre Inc. and formerly known as the South Australian Writers' Centre (SAWC) and also known as the SA Writers Centre, is a resource centre for writers located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1985, it was the first such centre in Australia. Its newsletter for members, produced from 1997 to 2014, was called Southern Write.

## History[edit]

The centre was established in 1985, the first and prototype of many subsequent writers' centres throughout Australia.[1][2] One of its co-founders, and its first chair, was Andrew Taylor.[3] It was situated at 187 Rundle Street.

From 1 December 2017 the Centre changed its name to Writers SA. With the rebranding came a move to the State Library of South Australia’s Institute Building, and plans to extend its reach, which would include "more free events, more writing workshops and three targeted year-long programs for writers at all stages of their careers".[4]

## Description[edit]

The not-for-profit organisation exists to encourage and support writers of all ages and experience. It works with a range of other organisations to promote and encourage writers and literature in society.[5] Members of the public can participate in many of their workshops, but membership of Writers SA gives access to additional services and discounts, including advice, information and support; opportunities for writing as a career, such as a professional referral service and a means for publication and promotion; access to other professionals of all kinds in the industry.[1]

The organisation is a registered charitable organisation.[6] It is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, the Government of South Australia through Arts SA, both governments and other sponsors via Country Arts SA,[7] corporate sponsors through advertising,[8] and members' subscriptions and donations.[9]

## People[edit]

In February 2024 Laura Kroetsch, who directed Adelaide Writers' Week from 2011 to 2018, was appointed CEO by the chair, Tanya Wilkins.[10]

## Events and programmes[edit]

The South Australian Writers' Centre co-hosted the biennial South Australian Writers' Festival (2001–2011),[11] renamed the South Australian Readers' and Writers' Festival (2013–2015) with the City of Onkaparinga.[12]

The City of Salisbury, the SA Writers' Centre and the Salisbury Library Service have co-hosted the Salisbury Writers' Festival since 2005.[13][14]

From May 2014 until December 2016, Writers SA ran a blog curated by an Australian writer, rotating every few months, known as the Writer in Residence.[15][16][17]

In 2018, the Writers and Readers in Residence Project was launched "in which South Australian and international writers undertake an artistic residency in regional communities to activate reading as well as writing in the town". With funding assistance from the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, the programme was intended to take place from 2018 to 2020. Participating writers included Bernice Chauly, Jane Howard, Karen Wyld and Manal Younus in 2018, and Alexis West, Whiti Hereaka, Royce Kurmelovs and Jennifer Mills in 2019.[18]

## Publications[edit]

* Southern Write, formerly S.A.W.C.: Newsletter of the South Australian Writers' Centre, or Writers' Centre Newsletter (February 1997-September 1997), was produced monthly from December 2003 until February 2012 and then quarterly until June 2014.[19][20]

## See also[edit]

* Friendly Street Poets

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Korsten, Tracey (7 September 2020). "Writers SA Summer Offerings". Glam Adelaide (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 February 2021.
2. ^ Butterss, Philip, ed. (2013). Adelaide: a literary city (PDF). University of Adelaide. p. 15\. ISBN 978-1-922064-64-6. Retrieved 8 February 2021. "...the Friendly Street Poets, Australia's oldest public reading community; the South Australian Writers' Centre, the first such body to be established and a model for others throughout the country;..."
3. ^ "Andrew Taylor". AustLit. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
4. ^ "Renamed Writers SA announces plans to expand program". Books + Publishing. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
5. ^ "About". Writers SA. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
6. ^ "Current details for ABN 40 783 458 265". ABN Lookup. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
7. ^ "Sponsors". Writers SA. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
8. ^ "Advertise". Writers SA. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
9. ^ "Writers SA Annual Membership". Writers SA. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
10. ^ "Laura Kroetsch appointed new CEO of Writers SA". InDaily. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
11. ^ South Australian Writers' Centre; Onkaparinga (S.A.). Council (2001–2011), South Australian Readers' & Writers' Festival [Catalogue entry for programme, NLA], City of Onkaparinga, retrieved 8 February 2021
12. ^ South Australian Writers' Centre; Onkaparinga (S.A.). Council (2013–2015), South Australian Writers' Festival [Catalogue entry for programme, NLA], SA Writers' Centre and City of Onkaparinga, retrieved 8 February 2021
13. ^ Salisbury Writers' Festival (Salisbury, S.A.); Salisbury (S.A.). Corporation; South Australian Writers' Centre (2010–2020), Salisbury Writers' Festival: [programme – catalogue entry for electronic version], City of Salisbury, retrieved 8 February 2021
14. ^ Salisbury Writers' Festival (Salisbury, S.A.); Salisbury (S.A.). Corporation; South Australian Writers' Centre (2005–2016), Salisbury Writers' Festival: [programme – catalogue entry for print versions], City of Salisbury, retrieved 8 February 2021
15. ^ "About". Digital Writer in Residence. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
16. ^ South Australian Writers' Centre (2014), Digital writer in residence [NLA catalogue entry], SA Writers Centre, retrieved 8 February 2021
17. ^ "The Current Digital Resident". digital writer in residence. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
18. ^ "Writers & Readers in Residence". Writers SA. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
19. ^ South Australian Writers' Centre (1997–2014), Southern Write: Newsletter of the SA Writers' Centre Inc. [Catalogue entry], Published from October 1997 to June 2014., SA Writers' Centre, ISSN 2200-6222
20. ^ South Australian Writers' Centre (February–September 1997), S.A.W.C.: Newsletter of the South Australian Writers' Centre [Catalogue entry], The South Australian Writers' Centre, retrieved 8 February 2021

## Further reading[edit]

* "Monday musings on Australian literature: Writers SA". Whispering Gums. 5 August 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Official website