Tasmania Book Prizes - Program of Literary Events, 1 - 4 April, 2009

Tasmania has a strong literary identity, being home to many fine novelists, poets, writers and publishers of non-fiction in a variety of genres including history, environment, art, photography and biography. The Tasmania Book Prizes are a biennial suite of prizes, delivered by Arts Tasmania in partnership with the University of Tasmania. The prizes recognise, promote and encourage the increasingly active and popular Tasmanian publishing industry and are awarded in the following categories:

The Tasmania Book Prize, for the best book with Tasmanian content in any genre - $25,000
The Margaret Scott Prize, for the best book by a Tasmanian writer - $5,000
The University of Tasmania Prize, for the best book by a Tasmanian publisher - $5,000

In the lead up to the announcement of the Prize winners on 4 April 2009, Arts Tasmania is delighted to offer a very special program of literary events, presented as part of Ten Days on the Island. Throughout the program, authors of the shortlisted titles will be inconversation and will present short readings. Top literary minds will also discuss publishing and new media, critical writing; and place and identity in a free series of informative panel sessions. This exciting program will be taking place April 1 - 4 at:

The Commissariat Store, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 40 Macquarie Street, Hobart

Program of Events Overview

Wednesday April 1
12 noon
The University of Tasmania Prize - Shortlisted Authors in Conversation
Lynne Andrews, Peter Hughes (representing TMAG), Helen Davies - Chair: Alexander Okenyo

1pm
Publishing and New Technologies Forum
Sarah Howell, Craig Norris, Therese Fingleton - Chair: Ralph Crane

Thursday April 2
12 noon
The Margaret Scott Prize, Shortlisted Authors in Conversation
Roslynn Haynes, Warren Boyles (publisher), Hamish Maxwell-Stewart - Chair: Patsy Jones

1pm
Place and Identity Forum
Katherine Scholes, Ronald Wright, Jonathan Ledgard - Chair: Lucy Frost

Friday April 3
12 noon
The Tasmania Book Prize - Shortlisted Authors in Conversation
James Boyce, Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Roslynn Haynes - Chair: Cassandra Pybus

1pm
Critical Writing Forum
Maurice O'Riordan, Alison Croggon, Sean Kelly - Chair: Chris Gallagher

Saturday April 4
3 - 5pm
Readings by The Tasmania Book Prize Shortlisted Authors +
Announcement of All Prize Category Winner

All events take place at:
The Commissariat Store, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 40 Macquarie Street, Hobart

For the full program of Events and further information on the Tasmania Book Prizes visit: www.arts.tas.gov.au/bookprizes