Charles Perkins Centre Writers in Residence at the Sydney Writers' Festival
The Charles Perkins Centre鈥檚 first Writer in Residence, Charlotte Wood (2016) and our current Writer in Residence, Sarah Holland-Batt (2021) are both appearing across a number of events at this year鈥檚 (16鈥�22 May 2022). Their events cover topics from ageing, and what it means to live creatively, to the poet as 鈥榰nacknowledged legislator鈥�.
The Judy Harris Writer in Residence Fellowship at the Charles Perkins Centre is generously supported by University of Sydney alumna and patron, Judy Harris, and has so far welcomed six of Australia鈥檚 finest creative writers, working across genres and producing work in response to our world-leading research.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Charles Perkins Centre has been welcoming Australia鈥檚 creative writers to its community to explore issues relating to health. The writers reside in the Charles Perkins Centre, embedded within our academic community. They collaborate on key research themes, responding creatively to the research program and translating findings to a wider audience.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic to see 鈥榦ur鈥� Writers in Residence featuring at the Sydney Writers鈥� Festival, sharing their work and knowledge,鈥� said Professor Stephen J Simpson AC, Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre.
鈥淐丑补谤濒辞迟迟别鈥檚 Luminous Solution has been a particular favourite read over the past year with its insightful investigation of what it means to be an artist.
The intersection of creativity and living well and how the collaborative process enriches our understanding of all facets of life cannot be underplayed. It is one of the distinctive approaches of our work and we鈥檙e eternally grateful to Judy Harris for supporting us in facilitating this initiative. We are very proud of our continuing and unique engagement with our Australian writing community
鈥淓qually, I鈥檓 looking forward to Sarah Holland-Batt鈥檚 author talk on ageing 鈥� one of the Charles Perkins Centre鈥檚 areas of research focus 鈥� and hearing about Sarah鈥檚 direct experience of the aged care system and her testimony at the Royal Commission.
鈥淭he intersection of creativity and living well and how the collaborative process enriches our understanding of all facets of life cannot be underplayed. It is one of the distinctive approaches of our work and we鈥檙e eternally grateful to Judy Harris for supporting us in facilitating this initiative. We are very proud of our continuing and unique engagement with our Australian writing community.鈥�
The Charles Perkins Centre celebrates its first decade this year, having been established in 2012.聽The six writers in residence to date 鈥� Charlotte Wood, Mireille Juchau, Alana Valentine, Emily Maguire, Tracy Sorensen and Sarah Holland-Batt 鈥� have gone on to produce numerous works, directly and indirectly inspired by their time at the Charles Perkins Centre.
Charlotte Wood and Sarah Holland-Batt鈥檚 events at the Sydney Writers鈥� Festival 16-22 May 2022:
Two of Australia鈥檚 most acclaimed writers, Amanda Lohrey (appearing live via video) and Charlotte Wood, come together for a conversation about their most recent books, their incredible bodies of work and creative lives at large. Amanda鈥檚 Miles Franklin鈥搘inning novel, The Labyrinth, and Charlotte鈥檚 bestselling work of non-fiction, The Luminous Solution: Creativity, Resilience and the Inner Life, each offer essential and illuminating insights into the hope, redemption and restoration to be found in art and creation. They appear in conversation with Ailsa Piper.
12鈥�1pm | Saturday 21 May 2022 | $25
As the aged care crisis intensifies, it is critical we consider where society鈥檚 denial of aging and death stem from. Renowned Australian poet, editor and critic Sarah Holland-Batt (The Jaguar and Fishing for Lightning) became an advocate for aged care reform after testifying at the Royal Commission about her father鈥檚 adverse experiences. In this lecture, she unpacks why we are so reluctant to imagine what it means to get old and the harmful consequences this holds for older Australians today and our future selves.
3:15鈥�3:45pm | Thursday 19 May | Free, no booking required
鈥淧oets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world,鈥� Percy Bysshe Shelley once mused. His famous epithet resonates today as readers turn to a new generation of poets who are bringing rhyme and reason to bear on thorny ideas and urgent emotions in uncertain times. In this special event, the poets behind some of the year鈥檚 most thought-provoking and stirring works read and perform from their works. Featuring Eunice Andrada (TAKE CARE), Tony Birch (Whisper Songs), Maxine Beneba Clarke (How Decent Folk Behave), Sarah Holland-Batt (The Jaguar and Fishing for Lightning), Jazz Money (how to make a basket), Omar Musa (Killernova) and Sara M Saleh, with host Declan Fry.
4鈥�5pm | Sunday 22 May 2022 | $30
Editor of The Monthly Nick Feik unravels the day鈥檚 headlines with Sarah Holland Batt (Fishing for Lightning and The Jaguar), Gina Rushton (The Most Important Job in the World) and Louisa Lim (Indelible City).
8:30鈥�9:15am | Sunday 22 May | Free, no booking required
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