Wheeler Centre

Wheeler Centre
Established 2010
Chairman Eric Beecher
Director Michael Williams
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Address 176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000
Website http://wheelercentre.com/

The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas is a literary and publishing centre founded as part of Melbourne's bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature.[1] Opened in 2010, the centre is housed in the southern wing of the State Library of Victoria. As well as programming literary events, debates and awards, the centre hosts literary organisations including the Australian Poetry Centre, Emerging Writers' Festival, Express Media, Melbourne Writers Festival, SPUNC and Victorian Writers' Centre.

Staff and board

In October 2008 the centre's board of directors was appointed including Eric Beecher (chair), Peter Biggs, Joanna Murray-Smith, Reading's owner Mark Rubbo, Penguin Australia managing director Gabrielle Coyne and Andrew Hagger.[2] Initially Caro Llewellyn was appointed director of the centre, but she soon left the position citing personal reasons. In February 2009, Chrissy Sharp became the centre's new director.[3] In April 2009, Michael Williams was appointed head of programming. [4] When Sharp left in 2011, Williams became director of the organisation.

History

On 26 November the centre was renamed the Wheeler Centre after a donation by Lonely Planet founders, Tony Wheeler and Maureen Wheeler.[5]

The Wheeler Centre officially opened on 12 February 2010 with a gala night of storytelling[6] featuring several of Australia's most significant writers and performers including Paul Kelly, David Malouf, Cate Kennedy, John Safran and Shane Maloney.

Programming

The centre presents several one-off events with speakers including Irvine Welsh, Peter Carey and Naomi Wolf in co-operation with resident organisations and external partners including Sydney Writers' Festival and the ABC. The Meanland series of talks is a partnership with literary journals Overland and Meanjin that look at how books will be affected by technological change.

Regular events

The centre hosts regular monthly events, many of which are free. Debut Mondays features several first-time writers reading brief samples of their work. Reading on Vocation is a series about writing about work featuring professionals from various industries presented in partnership with ABC Radio National's Book Show by Ramona Koval. Lunchbox/Sopabox is "an old-fashioned Speakers' Corner in the middle of the city"[7] allowing guests to present their views on a variety of issues. The Writer's Mixtape is produced in partnership with radio station 3RRR as an interview series with a writer talking about music that influences their work.

From 2014[8] the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards will be presented in January as an annual event for the Centre.

References

External links

Coordinates: 37°48′35″S 144°57′53″E / 37.809801°S 144.964787°E / -37.809801; 144.964787

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