International Literary Programmers Roundtable 2027 - EOIs open for Victorian-based literary workers
About the program:
The International Literary Programmers Roundtable is our unique networking and professional development program. Over three online meetings and five days of roundtables, you will have a chance to workshop your role, connect with other programmers both here and abroad, and develop new connections.
Please note that this program is free.
Eligibility:
This initiative is open to any Melbourne professional who works in the literary sector and delivers programs to an audience. They could be a festival director, librarian, bookshop programmer or any other professional that fits the above description.
Unwaged or employees from small, funded organisations will be offered a small honorarium. Regional applicants will have their travel covered.
This is a genuinely active undertaking rather than a passive conference style program, and it rewards participants who bring real curiosity and energy to it. Participants will need to prepare and deliver several small presentations for the group.
Dates:
Virtual Introductions. They will be held at the following dates and be no more than 90 minutes:
- 17th February 7pm
- 24th March 7pm
- 21st of April. 7pm
The in-person roundtable will run in the mornings (9am–1pm) from 3-4 and the 6 – 7 May 2027.
There is also a welcome function and farewell dinner which are not mandatory (but we would love you to come).
This year, we will be welcoming:
- Barbara Balmas from Kraków Festival Office (KBF), Kraków
- Emma Collins from Push the Boat Out, Edinburgh
- Jens Laloire from Literaturhaus Bremen, Bremen
- Harriet MacMillan from Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, Edinburgh
- Isabel Reker from Mooie Woorden, Utrecht
- Tanja Skale from Tinta Comics Festival, Ljubljana
- Laura Tekorė from Lithuanian Publishers Association, Vilnius
- Chris White from Libraries Unlimited, Exeter
See all past participants here.
Expressions of interest close on Monday 14 December 2026, 9:00pm (AEDT).
Please apply here.
If you have any questions, please email Director David Ryding.
The International Literary Programmers Roundtable is co-presented with Melbourne Writers Festival.
Some feedback from past participants:
Feedback from past Victorian participants
5 stars from me: I learnt things, made new friends, and felt part of something bigger!’ Anna Taylor, Program Lead, Knowledge and Literary Programs, State Library of Victoria
Deeply comforting to find out that our challenges are not isolated, and deeply gratifying to hear how others are tackling them – I came away with ideas, inspiration, and community. Kate Cuthbert – Freelance
Individually it opened up a whole new world to me, ideas, experiences, connections; at a service level it provided a unique opportunity for a small library service like ours to gain practical local and global knowledge to bring back to our Moorabool community Kristie Seketa, Library Program and Engagement Team Leader, Moorabool Libraries
‘Whatever expectations I had were far exceeded – I left the round table energized for what I do, and with many new friends! The openness of everyone taking part in the programme and their willingness to share the good and the bad of their experience as literary producers made me feel part of a very special group of people.’ Ann Landmann, Cymera: Scotland’s Festival of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writing
‘I thoroughly enjoyed, valued and was challenged by the conversations I had with my programming peers. The welcome, hospitality, facilities and programme offered to us by Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office and the Wheeler Centre made a very conducive environment for constructive and candid sharing and learning.’ Peggy Hughes, National Centre for Writing
‘It was a unique experience to be able to connect with peers from around the world… I would now like to work closer with, not only with Australian literary organisations, but with all of the delegates’ markets as well.’ Ahlam Bolooki, Emirates Literature Foundation
‘The program is one of its kind and coming from a region where there are few literary organisations and even fewer literary arts programmers, it was immensely beneficial from a professional development standpoint.’ Jobina Tan, Singapore Arts House
‘The roundtable was very well-conceived… it was a pleasure to interact with my counterparts from across the world and gain from their experience. I particularly enjoyed the interactions with the various literary organisations at the Wheeler Centre… We would like to see more Australian writers in India and familiarise Indian readers with their work.’ Maina Bhagat, Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival