Event Type: Events

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.

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Sunday Program

Sunday 6^th April 2025 – 10:00AM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Festival Hub Open
Welcome to the Hobart LitFest Hub – a cozy retreat for ticket holders! Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee as you unwind in a comfortable space designed for writer and readers alike. Whether you’re here to sit back with a good book, jot down your thoughts, or simply connect with fellow festivalgoers, our hub offers a perfect escape. Come in, recharge, and take a moment to enjoy the slightly quieter side of the festival.

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Sunday 6^th April 2025 – 12:30PM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Creating Book Merch: Art and the Crowdfunding Author
Festival goers will be guided through how to create your own unique book merch using DIY craft, local resources, and creative partnerships to create extra value for your crowdfunding campaigns. The presenter, Tansy Rayner Roberts, will discuss her own experiences and take you through ways to boost book sales using art & craft in the digital age.

The Presenter : Tansy Rayner Roberts

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Sunday 6^th April 2025 – 1:45PM
Sunday Ticket / Festival Ticket

Tassie Fireside Chat – From Page To Screen with Belinda Bradley & Franz Docherty

Join us for From Page to Screen with screenwriters Belinda Bradley & Franz Docherty as they share the process of crafting a screenplay and bringing it to life on film. Get an insider’s look at what it truly takes to transform a written script into a dynamic film, with Belinda and Franz exploring the journey from the page to the screen. Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter, filmmaker, or film enthusiast, this event will offer valuable lessons and insider knowledge on the magic of storytelling for the screen.

The Presenters : Belinda Bradley and Franz Docherty

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• Sunday 6^th April 2025 – 2:45PM
• Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Tassie Fireside Chat – Get Published, Tasmania!
Produced by Forty South Tasmania & Island Magazine

Tasmania is producing some of the finest writing in the country, supported by a diverse and growing publishing industry. Join Island’s Jane Rawson and Forty South’s Rayne Allinson and Lucinda Sharp for a deep dive into what these publishing outlets are looking for, and how to kick-start your publishing career here in Tasmania.

The Presenters: Rayne Allinson (Forty South), Lucinda Sharp (Forty South), and Jane Rawson (Island Magazine)

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Sunday 6^th April 2025 – 4:00PM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Hobart as a UNESCO City of Literature: What It Means for Tasmania
Join us for an exciting panel event on Hobart as a UNESCO City of Literature: What It Means for Tasmania’s Future. This forward-looking discussion will explore the transformative potential of Hobart’s UNESCO recognition, focusing on how it will shape the state’s literary and cultural landscape in the years ahead. Local authors and experts will discuss the opportunities for growth in the local literary scene, fostering collaborations, and nurturing a new generation of writers and creatives. Don’t miss this chance to hear how Hobart’s designation is paving the way for a brighter, more dynamic cultural future for Tasmania.

The Presenters : Arianne James, Rayne Allinson, and Patrick Gregory

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Sunday 6^th April 2025 – 5:00PM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

LitFest Networking Event
Join us at the Hobart LitFest Festival Hub for an exclusive networking event! Connect with fellow book lovers, authors, and industry professionals in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere. Enjoy a complimentary drink upon entry as you mingle and share your passion for literature. This is the perfect opportunity to make new connections, exchange ideas, and be part of a vibrant literary community. Don’t miss out on this exciting event – where creativity and conversation flow!

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Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.

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Saturday Program

Saturday 5^th April 2025 – 12:00PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Opening Lines and Unresolved Issues: How to begin and how to end a really good story
Katherine Johnson, Kathryn Lomer and Robbie Arnott are all Award-winning Tasmanian authors, who will be sharing some insights as to how they set their opening scenes, what to say at the end, and what might be best left unsaid.

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Saturday 5^th April 2025 – 1:15PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

People are so Gullible: Do Facts in History even matter anymore?
Our world is full of heavy words and grand proclamations hurled with such passion and force because someone wants us to believe them. But saying something does not make it so. Esteemed Tasmanian historians Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Robert Cox and Alison Alexander remind us of the value of Fact and Evidence in Writing History.

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Saturday 5^th April 2025 – 2:30PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Short stories and Long shots: Weaving the improbable with the credible (in under 5,000 words)
The short story has been a valued and favoured form for writers and readers for hundreds of years. What art is there in fashioning an engaging tale without the freedom of unlimited length.  Cameron Hindrum, Leigh Swinbourne and Mallika Naguran have each published collections of short stories, and will share their thoughts on how to tame big ideas in order to reveal all that the reader needs to know, sometimes in only a few pages.

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Saturday 5^th April 2025 – 3:45PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Burning Bridges, Burning Books & Burning Issues
We have always lauded a writer’s courage to say what needs to be said. With subtlety and satire, history’s sacred cows have been subjected to scrutiny. Award-winning Tasmanian authors, including Adam Ouston, Gina Mercer, and Ben Walter ponder the rights and obligations of the contemporary writer to say what they wish to say in an increasingly complex world.

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Saturday 5^th April 2025 – 5PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

A Distillation of the Language: Why Poetry is the highest form of writing.
In this provocation, Pete Hay, Anne Kellas, and Sarah Day; three of Tasmania’s most highly regarded poets, will share why Poetry is their chosen form, and how Poetry, alone, allows human concerns, both personal and universal, to co-exist, and to be articulated within the most economic use of the English language.

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Saturday 5^th April 2025 – 7:30PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

The Great Literary Debate – Plotting vs Pantsing
“It’s better to fly by the seat of your pants than plan and plot your book in detail.”

Come and watch local Tasmanian authors battle out this contentious topic while their tongues remain firmly planted in their cheeks.

The Panelists

Lissa Bilyk, Ruth Amos, DK Girl, Lou Powers, David Webby, Simon Thiessen, and Cary Lenehan

Facilitated by Mark Mannock. Adjudicated by the audience!

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Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.

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Friday Program

Friday 4^th April 2025 – 4:00PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Festival Hub Open
Welcome to the Hobart LitFest Hub – a cozy retreat for ticket holders! Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee as you unwind in a comfortable space designed for writer and readers alike. Whether you’re here to sit back with a good book, jot down your thoughts, or simply connect with fellow festivalgoers, our hub offers a perfect escape. Come in, recharge, and take a moment to enjoy the slightly quieter side of the festival.

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Friday 4^th April 2025 – 5:30PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Tasmanian Literary Prize Longlist Open Mic
Join us for a special Open Mic session featuring Tasmanian Literary Prize Longlist authors! This intimate event offers a chance to hear short snippets of their captivating works, as they share their stories and voices with Hobart audiences. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience firsthand the talent and creativity of these exciting authors.

Presenting Authors : Susan Austin, Ian Broinowski, and Leigh Swinbourne

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Friday 4^th April 2025 – 7:00PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Scratch Night with Bad Company Theatre
Step into the creative world of Hobart’s emerging playwrights at our Scratch Night! Join us for an evening of play readings, showcasing new works by up-and-coming local writers. Facilitated by the talented team at Bad Company Theatre, this is a unique opportunity to experience raw, untapped stories in their early stages. Be part of the creative process, offer feedback, and witness the future of Hobart theatre unfold!

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Friday 4^th April 2025 – 8:15PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
Join PROTEA Impro as we perform a classic novel in JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. Which book? Well that’s up to you! As a Hobart LitFest special treat we’ll be asking about your favourite romance novels, romantic characters and Tas literature and then we’ll see them come to life in a stunning (or bewildering) improvised stage adaptation. Will it be a faithful adaptation? Not even close: Just give us some titles, some plot points, maybe a couple of characters and we’ll do the rest.

See you on Friday April 4th for 
JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER 
‘Let’s build a romance novel!’

PROTEA Impro
PROTEA Impro is Tasmania’s leading improvised theatre company. Specialising in full length plays and narrative works which they have performed across the country and overseas. They also hold the Tasmanian licence for Theatresports™️ which they perform monthly at The Founders Room SAC. 

PROTEA Impro’s 2025 season is supported by Salamanca Arts Centre 

Tasmanian improvisation. Follow us on Insta @proteaimpro

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Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.

Salamanca Arts Centre’s Hobart LitFest runs from Thursday 3^rd until Saturday 12^th April 2025 in the Long Gallery and is supported by the City of Hobart, and sponsored by Forty South Tasmania, Island Magazine, The Hobart Bookshop, and many other Tasmanian organisations, groups, and businesses.

Full Program for the Hobart LitFest 2025 can be found online HERE

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Thursday 3^rd April 2025 – 6:30PM
Opening Event including Keynote Speech by Peter Timms

How we have become a City of Literature & how we compare
Join us for the official opening of the festival followed by a keynote speech by Peter Timms, through which we will explore the journey that led to our city being recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature. Delve into the rich literary history, cultural influences, and key milestones that have shaped our city’s identity in the literary world. We’ll also compare our literary standing to other global cities, highlighting what sets us apart and what we can learn from their successes. Don’t miss this chance to reflect on our literary legacy and future over drinks and nibbles!

About the Presenter
Peter Timms held curatorial positions in Australian museums between 1973 and 1988. He was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1984 and an Australia Council Senior Writers’ Fellowship in 1994. Since 1988 he has been a freelance journalist and author, including five years as editor of Art Monthly Australia and art critic for The Age. Peter has published eleven books, including Australian Studio Pottery, Making Nature, What’s Wrong with Contemporary Art?, Australia’s Quarter Acre, Private Lives, and Hobart. His first novel, Asking for Trouble, was published by HarperCollins in 2014. His most recent book is Silliness: a Serious History.

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Full Program for the Hobart LitFest 2025 can be found online HERE

Find out more about Friday’s Program HERE

Find out more about Saturday’s Program HERE

Find out more about Sunday’s Program HERE

Find out more about Week Two’s Program HERE

\Find out more about the artists involved HERE

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Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

Performance :
Saturday 15 March 2025
Doors Open : 6:30pm | Performance from 7:00pm

Duration : 65 minutes | NO Interval

Tickets :
General Admission $25.00
Generous Admission $30.00

A comedy show about growing up in rural Tasmania, the unexpected turns life takes, and the story of two friends discovering a passion for making people laugh!

There have been many iconic duos throughout history, Abel and Cain, Shaggy and Scooby Doo, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. But none can compare to Tasmania’s Clown Princes of comedy : Russell Redmond and Ned Townsend. 

Like Frodo and Sam carrying the ring to Mount Doom, Ned and Russell have travelled far and wide (even as far as Rossarden) to bring you the best of their collective 20 years in Stand up comedy. 

A show full of Stand up and sketches about growing up in rural Tasmania, becoming men, the unexpected turns life takes, how much they miss Chickenfeed, and the epic story of two friends discovering their passion for making people laugh!

Come see Painting the Townsend Redmond, guaranteed to blow your socks off.

2025 Events :
Friday 28 February 2025
Friday 28 March 2025
Friday 30 May 2025
Friday 20 June 2025
Friday 25 July 2025
Friday 29 August 2025
Friday 26 September 2025
Friday 31 October 2025
Friday 28 November 2025

Doors Open @ 7:00pm | Performance from 7:30pm

Tickets :
Concession / Students $15
General Admission $20

An improvised battle royal to see which team will reign supreme.

PROTEA Impro’s Theatresports™️ returns for 2025.

Each month teams compete in improvised scenes and sketches to see who will be victorious and hold aloft the As Yet Unnamed Perpetual Trophy.

Sat 1 March, 2025
7:30pm – 10:00pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Live @ The Founders Room
Salamanca Arts Centre
65b Woobys Lane, or for lift access enter through The Courtyard

$28 +bf each
$52 +bf for 2 x tickets
$91 +bf for 4 x tickets

Welcome to the launch of the Salamanca Jazz 2025 series, live in the Founders Room on Woobys Lane.
The Jode Brewster Trio performs Joe Henderson’s landmark album, ‘The State Of The Tenor’ (Live at The Village Vanguard).

Saturday 1st March 2025
Doors & bar open at 7pm
Music from 7:30pm 

The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre 

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In this concert, which will launch our Salamanca Jazz 2025 concert series, the Jode Brewster Trio will pay tribute to Joe Henderson’s landmark album, The State Of The Tenor (Live at The Village Vanguard). Recorded in 1985 in New York, this album is held in very high regard as one of the most important albums that worked towards the development of chord-less trio performance and the jazz language as a whole.
The Jode Brewster Trio will perform the album in its entirety, plus some additional tunes from surrounding Joe Henderson Albums and other favourites.
This band promises to deliver a captivating performance along with information about the tunes to give listeners a deeper understanding of the music.

Jed Adams is a Hobart-based double-bass and saxophone player. He has been in and around the Hobart scene for over 10 years, and has had the fortune of collaborating with some of Hobart’s best musicians in that time.

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Chris McGuinness-Terry is one of the most prominent young jazz drummers in Hobart. With a passion for collaboration and cross-pollination between genres, Chris also plays with a variety of artists in different groups and capacities within the Hobart music scene.

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Jode Brewster is an emerging saxophone artist from Hobart, who passionately embraces the jazz language; drawing inspiration from legends like John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Sonny Stitt, and Joe Henderson.

Please note that the Courtyard Lift IS OPERATING!

Doors & Bar open at 7pm

Music begins at 7.30pm
The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre.

Tickets are only $28 ea +BF, or buy two tix for $52+BF, or buy four tix for only $91+BF.

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This concert at Salamanca Arts Centre is supported by Arts Tasmania’s 2025 Arts Projects Fund.
Salamanca Arts Centre is grateful for this support via Arts Tasmania and the Minister for the Arts.

Every Friday evening (weather pending)
5:30pm – 7:30pm

FREE EVENT

**NO Rektango on the following Fridays in 2025 :
Friday 18 April 2025 (Good Friday)
Friday 1 August 2025

Over 20 years old and still going strong, Rektango is a weekly event held every Friday in Salamanca Art Centre’s own enchanting Courtyard. Hemmed in by a cliff face stretching up to Battery Point, people from all walks of life gather for live music every Friday evening between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

It’s a FREE EVENT event run by the musicians themselves, with lots of dancing, catching up with old friends or meeting new ones. There’s hot mulled wine and fires in the winter, sangria in the summer, plus beers, ciders and wine and it always goes ahead unless rained out. The music may be anything from gypsy swing, cool funk or latin sambas to daft disco depending on when you drop in, one things we can promise is there will always be plenty of dancing.

To find out who is playing this week – or if tonight’s performance has been cancelled due to bad weather – check Rektango’s facebook page HERE

Performances :
Saturday 8 February 2025, 6:00pm – 7:30pm : SOLD OUT!
Sunday 9 February 2025, 6:00pm – 7:30pm 

Tickets : General Admission $40 (+BF)
Recommended for ages 12+

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Follow Mikelangelo, the Nightingale of the Adriatic, as he sails the wild seas and the darkest depths of the ocean with his trusty guitar, his booming baritone and his sparkling accordion.

Co-created by Tracy Bourne and Michael Simic, performed by Mikelangelo.

On his adventures Mikelangelo encounters a beautiful mermaid in her underwater cave, a lonely ice queen in her frozen castle, and a huge Sperm whale from the darkest depths of the ocean.

Mikelangelo weaves songs and storytelling into a magical, mysterious voyage into the unknown. Full of laughter, imagination and unexpected twists and turns, this new solo show will captivate and delight audiences young and old, and everyone in between.

In the Belly of the Whale was created in collaboration with writer/director Tracy Bourne, who has worked on extensively in music theatre in Australia, including productions with Chamber Made Opera, Melbourne International Festival and the ABC.

Mikelangelo is the alter-ego of songwriter and creative dynamo Michael Simic. For 25 years, he has travelled Australia and the globe, as a solo performer, and fronting his long term group Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. He has packed venues and received critical accolades from the Sydney Opera House to London’s West End, releasing 17 independent albums and building a worldwide following.

In The Belly of the Whale has its’ international premiere at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Following the success of the Mikelangelo and Van Diemen’s Band performances of Songs of the Sea at AWBF in 2023, we recommend you book early, as these shows are likely to sell out.