In case you haven’t heard, Writing NSW, the peak writers’ organisation in the state, could be defunded at the end of this year. To make this decision in the middle of a pandemic is devastating. Here’s the latest:

An update on our campaign to #SaveWritingNSW

It has been 2 weeks since we received the devastating news from Create NSW that we would lose our ongoing state government funding at the end of this year. You can read more about this and its impact on Writing NSW here.

Since then, we have had an outpouring of support from the writing community. You have raised your voices through petitions, emails, phone calls, letters to ministers and via social media.

We can’t tell you how much this has meant to the staff and board of Writing NSW. So, thank you. We are so grateful.

There is still work to be done, though. If you want to take action, here are some ways:

• Write to or phone your NSW Member of Parliament. Contact details for all state MPs are here. Customise this template letter to make your views known.
• Send a copy of your letter to the Honourable Don Harwin, Minister for the Arts: office@harwin.minister.nsw.gov.au
• Post about the funding decision on your social media platforms tagging @writingNSW and using the hashtag #SaveWritingNSW
• Sign this open letter to Create NSW and the NSW Minister for the Arts from writers and active members in the literary community
• Sign this petition from Jamie Parker, MP for Balmain, to NSW Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin.

We will be working hard to secure a new source of funding and find a new way forward when our Create NSW funding ends 31 December 2020.

Thank you and best wishes from all of us at Writing NSW.