The Riverland will welcome renowned Australian author and journalist Royce Kurmelovs as Writers SA’s Writer in Residence this July. Working with the Berri, Barmara and Renmark Public Libraries, writing groups and community groups, Kurmelovs will connect with local reader and writers, holding workshops and events in the region in between working on his new book.
Kurmelovs’ residency is part of Writers SA’s Writers and Readers in Residence Project, which sees South Australian writers undertake an artistic residency in regional communities to activate reading as well as writing in the area. The Writers and Readers in Residence Project is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
Writers SA Director, Jessica Alice says: “Writers SA is excited to support one of South Australia’s best non-fiction authors to meet and learn from Riverland communities. Royce Kurmelovs is producing important work at a vital time in Australian journalism and this residency will be a transformational exchange of ideas for local writers and readers alike.”
Royce Kurmelovs is the author of three non-fiction books, The Death of Holden (2016), Rogue Nation (2017) and Boom and Bust (2018). He is also a contributor to publications such as The Guardian Newspaper, The Adelaide Review and The Saturday Paper. Kill Your Darlings calls him “One of Australia’s most important socio-political voices.”Other publications include the ABC, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera English and VICE,and Kurmelovs was recently awarded Best Freelance Contribution at the SA Media Awards for his series of articles on Indigenous deaths in custody.
While in the Riverland region, Kurmelovs will be working on his next book as well as investigative articles. He will be working from the Berri Library 3rd – 11th July, and Renmark Library 17th – 29thJuly. He will be holding workshops and meet the author events, as well as one-on-one meetings for aspiring writers and journalists in the area.
Royce says: “I’m excited to have this chance to explore the Riverland while I work on my next book. It is a beautiful landscape to get lost in and I consider myself lucky. I’m especially looking forward to meeting people in Berri and Renmark to swap stories and have some great conservations. The stories we tell about ourselves and where we’re from shape who we are. It’s important they’re shared.”
For more information, please contact:
Director of Writers SA, Jessica Alice: [email protected]
Program Coordinator at Writers SA, Bronwyn Tilley: [email protected]
Berri Library
P: (08) 8595 2666
E: [email protected]
Barmera Library
P: (08) 8588 2872
E: [email protected]
Renmark Paringa Public Library
P: 8586 5544
E: [email protected]
