Presented by Tassie Indie Authors as a part of Hobart LitFest
Sat 12 April, 2025 10am – 3pm Long Gallery Salamanca Arts Centre
Come along and check out Tassie’s best independent authors. Something for everyone with a range of genres on offer. Meet the authors. Buy the books. Book signings and giveaways!
A showcase of Tasmanian Indie Authors from across the state. Books available to buy direct from the authors. Come along, meet the authors, and find your next favourite read!. There is something for everyone – a range of genre from children’s books to thrillers, fantasy to romance and a range of memoir and non-fiction. Meet the author, get your book signed. Lots of giveaways and prizes!
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.
Monday 7th & Wednesday 9th April 2025 – 10AM Via Booking Only
Young Writers High School Program Presented by Tasmanian Indie Author Group & Salamanca Arts Centre Salamanca Arts Centre are partnering with the Tasmanian Independent Author Group to present the Young Writers High School Program as a part of Hobart LitFest. This program offers high school students the opportunity to engage in three one-hour sessions led by independent authors from the Tasmanian Independent Author Group. During each session, students will participate in tailored writing workshops designed to inspire creativity, sharpen their writing skills, and explore new styles of expression. This interactive experience fosters a deeper connection to the writing process while encouraging self-expression and personal growth in a supportive, hands-on environment. To find out more, please visit the school booking system below.
‘Pony Tales’ Book Launch and Children’s Picture Book Panel Discussion Presented by Forty South Tasmania Join us for the launch of “Pony Tales: For the Love of Shetland Ponies” by Jacqui Sinclair Dickson, a collection of spirited stories and vivid charcoal drawings from a life-long horse-lover, writer and vision-impaired artist. The book will be launched by award-winning author/illustrator Fiona Levings (co-regional co-ordinator of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), followed by a discussion with other Tasmanian author/illustrators on their creative process.
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Tuesday 8th & Thursday 10th April 2025 – 10:30AM Via Booking Only
Collage and storytelling collide in this highly engaging and accessible creative workshop, brought to you by The Story Island Project. In Mix, Match, Make!, students will experiment with text and images cut out from magazines, books and newspapers to create their very own stories or poems in collage form. This dynamic workshop includes a mix of individual and group activities and, as students can engage with the materials at a variety of levels, it caters for a diverse range of abilities. Each group will be led by one of Story Island’s expert Story Leaders, with additional student support from our trained team of volunteers. To find out more, please visit theschool booking system below.
About Story Island The Story Island Project is a Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices. With the support of our enthusiastic volunteer tutors, Story Island runs free, dynamic storytelling workshops where young people are empowered to create their own stories. Our vision is for young people to harness the power of their imaginations so they can grow to be resilient and creative shapers of their own lives.
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Wednesday 9th April 2025 – 6:30PM Free Event
Tassie Indies Read Enjoy a showcase of Tasmanian Indie Authors reading their work. Ranging a number of genre styles of writing, come along and find your new favourite author!
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Saturday 12th April – 10AM til 3PM Free Event
2025 Tassie Indie Author Book Fair Come along and check out Tassie’s best independent authors. Something for everyone with a range of genres on offer. Meet the authors! Buy the books! Book signings and giveaways! Find out more here.
Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.
The Hobart Bookshop– A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania.
Island Magazine– A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.
Celebrate Hobart’s designationas 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.
Sunday 6th 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 6th 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.
Sunday 6th April 2025 – 1:45PM Sunday Ticket / Festival Ticket
Tassie Fireside Chat – From Page To Screen with Belinda Bradley & Franz Docherty
Join us forFrom 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.
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.
Sunday 6th 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.
Sunday 6th 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!
Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.
The Hobart Bookshop– A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania.
Island Magazine– A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.
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.
Saturday 5th 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 5th 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 historiansHamish Maxwell-Stewart, Robert Cox and Alison Alexander remind us of the value of Fact and Evidence in Writing History.
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Saturday 5th 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.
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, includingAdam 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.
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 5th 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.
Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.
The Hobart Bookshop– A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania.
Island Magazine– A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.
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.
Friday 4th 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 4th 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.
Friday 4th 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 4th 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
Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.
The Hobart Bookshop– A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania.
Island Magazine– A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.
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 3rd until Saturday 12th 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
Thursday 3rd 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 Timmsheld 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.
Full Program for the Hobart LitFest 2025 can be found online HERE
Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.
The Hobart Bookshop– A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania.
Island Magazine– A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.
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.
Join us at the iconic Peacock Theatre for a captivating showcase of thought-provoking documentaries celebrating Pacific maritime history and culture, rich storytelling, and the power of film.
THE SALTWATER STORY
Guided by Indigenous canoemaker Kyle Slabb from the Bundjalung people, a group of young men (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) build traditional canoes and embark on a 3-day sea voyage re-tracing an ancient trade route from the heart of the Queensland Gold Coast to North Stradbroke Island, a journey not made for over 100 years.
For Māori, the canoe underpins our culture. We built waka from giant trees and sailed the vast Pacific by the stars. These arts were lost to us for 600 years. Then the stars re-aligned and three men from far flung islands met by chance to revive our place as the greatest navigators on the planet.
Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh’s former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.
Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand. This ancient custom is upset when the child selected to be the next chief dies at birth. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother (Vicky Haughton) and the training of her uncle (Grant Roa) to claim her birthright. But to break with convention, she’ll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather (Rawiri Paratene).
A first contact story, told from a Pacific point of view.
Who was Tupaia—this high-priest, star-navigator, and extraordinary artist? This film seeks to uncover the history of Tupaia and his journey aboard Cook’s HMS Endeavour. Retrace the footsteps of Tupaia in true Polynesian style.
The Clipper Ship ‘City of Adelaide’ has spent the past two years engaged in meticulous logistical and engineering planning, utilising high-level in-house expertise, to prepare for its move to a permanent home on land at Dock 2.
The film features stunning high-quality drone footage that enhances the presentation by showcasing the complexity of transporting the 585-tonne ship and its cradle. The footage captures the entire process, from the transfer from the barge to the wharf, navigating between buildings, and maneuvering down a ramp into a shallow pit constructed as the ship’s permanent display foundation.
The film will be followed by a 30 minute Q&A from the CSCOAL team.
We are the living crew of Lata, our Polynesian culture-hero who built the first voyaging canoe and navigated across the Pacific. We use only ancient designs, materials, and methods, and we invite everyone to reconnect with ancestors and sustainable lifeways. This is the real Moana!
The film will be followed by a 30 min Q&A with co-Director, Marianne “Mimi” George, Ph.D. Co-founder of Pacific Traditions Society, Sailor, Anthropologist, Emeritus.
“Why do mothers have to fight so hard for what feels so right?”
The documentary Pacific Mother began with this simple question from Sachiko Fukumoto. In Pacific Mother, Sachiko travels from Japan to Hawai’i, Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Aotearoa New Zealand to connect with strong ocean women, whose stories about birth and parenthood inspire a more traditional, connected way of life.
Celebrating 30 years of women on the water as we honour their remarkable achievements and contributions.
This special event features inspiring stories and valuable networking opportunities, with a captivating conversation led by Sarah Gilman, former ABC broadcaster and board member of Womensport and Recreation Tasmania. Don’t miss this chance to connect and be inspired by the incredible women shaping our maritime community.
Photographer, Tom Polacheck’s exhibition highlights Madagascar’s rich maritime heritage, where wooden boats blend influences from Southeast Asian outrigger canoes, Arab dhows, and Western schooners along the island’s 3,000 km coastline.
A photo and video exhibition that celebrates the 1000s of traditional wooden boats that still prevail along Madagascar’s 3000km coast line. Madagascar is the last large coastal region where open-ocean, wooden sailing vessels still predominate. These vessels are critical for sustaining the daily lives of the people living there. They are central for providing food and transport in a region where roads and terrestrial infrastructure hardly exist. While off the coast of Africa, Madagascar retains strong links with the Pacific and SE Asia as its original inhabitants sailed there around 1200 years ago. Since then, it has been at the cross roads of the Atlantic-Indian Ocean trade routes. It has absorbed, combined and maintained the traditions and knowledge from (1) Southeast Asian/Pacific outrigger canoes (2) Arab dhows and (3) the western gaff rigged schooners.In November 2024, five Australian’s undertook a journey of discovery to Madagascar, (including a 2 week cruise in a traditional schooner) to learn about and document its rich maritime history. Presented here is a visual display of some of what they learned and discovered about this diverse range of beautiful vessels and the people that build and sail them.
