National Young Writers' Festival
The National Young Writers' Festival (NYWF) occurs annually in the city of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, over the New South Wales' Labour Day Holiday Weekend in late September/early October. It is the country's largest gathering of young and innovative writers working in both new and traditional forms including zines, comics, blogging, screenwriting, poetry, spoken word, hip hop music, journalism, autobiography, comedy, songwriting and prose.
NYWF presents 'writing' in its broadest sense through panels, discussions, workshops, launches, performances and readings. NYWF gives young writers a place to present their work and share ideas, to learn about the industry in which they write and to meet with like-minded people in a friendly festival atmosphere. The festival's current directors are Lex Hirst (2014 - 2015), Alexandra Neill (2014 - 2015), Jessica Alice (2014 - 2015) and Sian Campbell (2015 - 2016).
History
The National Young Writers Festival was founded as an independent festival in 1998. The founders included Marcus Westbury and Sean Healy who were associated with the Octapod Association - a Newcastle, New South Wales based arts and media organisation. In 2000 the National Young Writers' Festival became a key part of a broader coalition of arts and media festivals known as This Is Not Art, held in the city over the same weekend.
Organisational Structure
The National Young Writers' Festival is an Incorporated Association registered with the New South Wales government's Department of Commerce, Office of Fair Trading.
In accordance with being an incorporated association the National Young Writers' Festival is governed by a board. The board's membership is drawn from previous festival staff, contributing artists, and the broader Australian literary and arts community.
The festival is managed on a day-to-day basis by a team of Co-Directors, Festival Manager and a Festival Coordinator. Closer to the festival the staff expands to include a Marketing Coordinator, Production Coordinator, Volunteers Coordinator and Zine Fair Coordinator. All roles are part-time.
National Young Writers Festival operates as one of the contributing festivals to the coalition of arts and media festivals This Is Not Art
Important Dates
National Young Writers' Inc Festival callout occurs in early March.
Festival Dates: Labour Day Weekend (NSW, Australia) in late September/early October. In 2015 the festival will be held on 1-4 October.
Past Guests
The 2007 festival featured poets Judith Beveridge, Andy Jackson and Andrew Slattery. The 2008 festival featured poets Sam Byfield, Ella Holcombe and Geoff Lemon. The 2012 festival featured international guest Christian Lander, author of Stuff White People Like.