Writing WA

Writing WA is delighted to share on behalf of PICA - Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, their writers-in-residence collaboration with ARTERY Magazine during this year’s 2026 Hatched: National Graduate Show.

Four early-career writers will be selected to undertake a month-long residency in a shared studio at PICA to develop new work to be published in issue #5 of ARTERY Magazine. Selected residents will be invited to respond to works from this year’s Hatched exhibition.

Follow this link for more information: https://pica.org.au/writers-in-residence-with-artery-magazine/

On the successful foundations of ‘Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place’, the Australian Commonwealth Government is developing a new National Cultural Policy. This new policy aims to address gaps, respond to emerging priorities and provide clear frameworks to support a sustainable cultural future.

Together with Books Create Australia, Writing WA urges you to have your say on what this policy means to you and the future of books, writing and reading. Books Create Australia has developed accessible resources that you can utilise to support this policy. Submissions close at 11.59 pm WST on 24 May 2026.

Useful resources, including policy advice and template wording: https://www.writingwa.org/news/the-national-cultural-policy/

Books Create Australia - advice on making a submission and supporting a National Plan for books and Reading.

Australia Reads - advice for those particularly interested in reading, literacy and reading participation.

Australian Society of Authors - advice for those particularly interested in authors, writing incomes and creators’ rights.

We encourage you to read the powerful Magabala Books statement about The University of Queensland Press cancelling the publication of a children’s picture book.

The Peppermint Grove Retreat offers WA emerging and established creators of Children’s and Young Adult books an opportunity to escape their daily lives to focus on creating.

The 2026 Winter Retreat will run between 13 and 27 JUNE. Applicants can choose to stay for 1 or 2 weeks. To apply, complete the application form and email it to [email protected] by 22 May 2026.

Follow the link to fill out the application form: https://www.writingwa.org/news/applications-for-the-peppermint-grove-retreat-are-now-open/

Nominations are now open for Australia’s first National Poet Laureate, and we would love to see West Australian poets nominated!

Nominees must have at least 3 professionally published poetry books. Further guidelines can be found here: https://creative.gov.au/investments-opportunities/national-poet-laureate?mc_cid=25d49d7d75&mc_eid=577f85e6e4

If there is a poet whose voice you believe should be recognised on a national stage, we encourage you to put their name forward. If you need a letter of support for a nomination, Writing WA would like to help.