Location
Upstairs at the Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange, one of the main cities of the Central West region of NSW.
Opening Hours:
Phone the Centre on 6393 8125 to make an appointment during business hours.
About the Centre
The Central West Writers' Centre was established in 1996 and provides development and promotion services for literary activity in rural Australia in the Central West of New South Wales. The centre serves a region from Lithgow, at the foot of the Blue Mountains to Lake Cargelligo, from Dubbo, Mudgee and Gulgong to Grenfell (both towns are home to Henry Lawson Festivals), an area of about 76,000 sq. kms. The region has several strong industries including education (several university campuses), health and agriculture. The Centre's main activities are providing training and development opportunities for new and emerging writers, and hosting author visits in conjunction with the Central West Libraries and other libraries, booksellers and writers' groups in the region. The Centre produces a quarterly newsletter, the Central West Writers' Centre Newsletter titled Words Out West. The Central West Writers' Centre is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.
Special Events
There are two annual festivals in the region: the Grenfell Henry Lawson and the Gulgong Henry Lawson Festival, both held on the June long weekend.
The Centre also works with the Banjo Paterson Writing Award (launched each year on Banjo's birthday February 17, closing date mid-April and winners announced in June) and holds literary events tying together the food and wine of the Central West with writers of note.
Drop-in days for writers to meet, socialise, talk about writing, read their works aloud and discuss concerns with writing are held on the last Friday of each month from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Interested people are most welcome to attend.
Visitors
Many writers visit the centre to give talks and workshops. Examples are Kate Grenville, Sue Woolfe and Bryce Courtenay, poet Dorothy Porter, reviewer Andrew Reimer, and social commentator Hugh McKay. We also welcome international literary figures such as Evelyn Condon and Philip Knightly.
The Centre holds book launches for regional writers. Launches for Angela Malone, Charlotte Calder and Margaret Carroll all drew large crowds.
Contact Details
Coordinator: Jasmine Vidler
Words Out West
PO Box 35, Orange NSW 2800
Phone (02) 6393 8125
email: writing@orange.nsw.gov.au
Web site: http://www.wordsoutwest.com.au
The Central West Writers' Centre is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW
