NSW spending $1.5m on literary hub to rival Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre and boost Sydney writers’ festival
Sydney’s literati is about to get what Melbourne has had for more than decade – a rival to the Wheeler Centre that established the southern city’s Unesco-endorsed reputation as the literary and publishing capital of Australia,On Sunday, the New South Wales arts minister, John Graham, announced the establishment of a dedicated literature hub, to be based out of the state’s public library, as is Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre,The new hub, with initial funding of $1,5m from the state government, will mean Sydney writers’ festival events will take place all year round – 75 literary events over the next 12 months,“There’s nothing like a festival in terms of the intensity and the sheer numbers of fantastic things that are on,” the creative director of the Sydney writers’ festival, Ann Mossop, told the Guardian.
“But this will be a little taste of the festival almost every week,” Mossop said.The year-long calendar will draw from Australia’s deep literary talent pool and include appearances by international authors.“We’ve had a situation in Sydney where … really, there are missed opportunities.We have fantastic books released by Australian authors … we also have amazing people coming to Australia for other events or festivals … but we haven’t been able to take advantage of their visits,” Mossop said.Stella prize winner Michelle de Kretser, Burial Rites author Hannah Kent, the former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown and romantic comedy novelists Melanie Saward and Saman Shad have been confirmed for some of the first events, which kick off in September, with more to be announced on 14 August.
The program will aim to deliver timely, engaging content that captures local and international literary voices, using a global literary exchange network and nurturing emerging Australian talent.Sign up: AU Breaking News emailGraham said the hub would provide an inclusive and accessible platform for NSW’s diverse communities, “amplifying underrepresented voices and strengthening the connection between writers and readers”.Sign up to Breaking News AustraliaGet the most important news as it breaksafter newsletter promotionThe recently refurbished 344-seat auditorium underneath the historic Mitchell Library reading room will be the headquarters for many of the program’s events, although Mossop said she expected free and family events to spread out across other library venues and elsewhere.“The partnership recognises the role libraries play as the homes for readers and writers, and the great contribution that writers’ festivals play in taking what is quite a solitary act – reading – and transforming it into community experience,” Graham said in a statement.“This $1.
5m investment into a year-around program will benefit us all, strengthening the cultural heartbeat of our city, creating a home for readers and writers – a place for discussion, ideas, reflection, discovery.”
Andy Farrell says scrapping Lions tours to Australia is ‘insulting’
Andy Farrell has described suggestions the Wallabies are not worthy opponents of the British & Irish Lions as “insulting” and believes it would be a mistake to scrap tours of Australia.The Lions can wrap up their first clean sweep since 1927 if they beat the Wallabies in Saturday’s third Test in Sydney and become the first Lions side to go unbeaten since 1974. The Lions have already made history by becoming the first touring side to clinch a second straight series win over the same opponent and are odds-on favourites to secure a 3-0 whitewash.The Wallabies are languishing at sixth in the world rankings and although they came within 50 seconds of levelling the series in Melbourne were well beaten in the Brisbane opener. The six warm-up victories have been largely one-sided – the five-point win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV notwithstanding – raising questions as to whether the Lions should continue to tour Australia or seek different opponents, such as France or Argentina
ECB admits no evidence Hundred has attracted new fans to other forms of cricket
Richard Gould, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s chief executive, has admitted his organisation has no evidence that new fans attracted by the Hundred have gone on to attend other forms of the game. The ECB has long boasted that the tournament has attracted a different audience to existing formats.“The Hundred is all about throwing cricket’s doors open – and it’s already delivering,” the ECB’s then chief executive, Tom Harrison, said after the first tournament in 2021. “We need to grow cricket, reach more people, and that’s exactly what the Hundred does.”A report published last October found that 31% of tickets for the Hundred have been bought by women, 23% were bought for juniors and 41% of buyers attended in family groups
Sport England to meet RFL over concerns with rugby league funding at stake
Sport England will meet the Rugby Football League in the coming weeks to air their concerns over developments at the governing body. It is a move that could affect the sport’s financial outlook.Rugby league is one of several sports in receipt of millions of pounds worth of funding from Sport England every year. That is critical to the existence of the sport and is particularly important for the RFL, with continued adherence to the code for sports governance essential to maintain it.The RFL has been under scrutiny in recent months with its former chief executive Nigel Wood returning to the organisation, initially as its interim chair after the resignation of Simon Johnson in March
Vasseur signs new long-term Ferrari contract to end Horner speculation
Ferrari have ended speculation about the future of their team principal, Fred Vasseur, by agreeing a new, multi-year contract with the Frenchman. The deal closes the door on belief that the team were considering a move for Christian Horner.Vasseur, who was instrumental in bringing Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, has been under pressure with the Scuderia underperforming in what was expected to be a strong season. The team are yet to win a grand prix this year.Vasseur joined Ferrari in 2023, replacing Mattia Binotto, and has been central in implementing an overhaul of the team, which has not won a drivers’ title since 2007 and a constructors’ championship since 2008
With Joe Burrow and a too-familiar cast, the Bengals’ Super Bowl window is closing fast
Cincinnati left several glaring issues unaddressed this offseason, leaving holes even elite quarterbacking can’t paper overHere the Bengals go again. They have now had five cracks at building a championship roster around Joe Burrow since drafting him No 1 overall in 2020, and have fallen short all five times. Entering year six, it’s already starting to feel like Burrow is this generation’s Dan Marino or Philip Rivers, an all-time great quarterback let down by the franchise around him.After going 4-12 in Burrow’s rookie season, Cincinnati made the Super Bowl, lost, returned to the AFC title game the next season, and then lost there. Burrow missed almost all of his fourth season with an injury, but put forth the best season of his career statistically last year … before the Bengals surrendered it, finding novel way to give up close leads early in the season and failing to reach the playoffs despite winning five straight games to close it
Idaho’s Matteo Jorgenson gave it all for a Tour de France he could never win – and triumphed anyway
Tadej Pogačar’s victory looked certain as he flew up Butte Montmartre for the second of three times on the Tour de France’s final stage. His lead in the race’s general classification (GC) stood at four minutes and 27 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard, more than 10 minutes clear of everybody else, and GC times had been frozen for the final stage. He had won four stages already; that he hadn’t won at least six seemed more his choice than anybody else’s. There was no need to be at the front here, to add a fifth cherry atop the ice cream, but Pogačar’s unquenchable competitive spirit demanded an attempt. He stamped on his pedals on the cobblestoned hill, scything riders off the back of the bunch
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