Who we are

Byron Writers Festival creates shared moments of human connection through the exchange of ideas and adventure of storytelling. We foster the development of new skills in our region’s writers. And we excite the next generation about literature and literacy, giving them tools to create their future one story at a time.

Byron Writers Festival is a non-profit member organisation presenting workshops and events year-round, including the annual Festival.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Arakwal Bumberbin People of the Byron Shire as the traditional custodians of this land. We pay respect to the Elders past and present and ask that you share with us respect for country.

What we do

Byron Writers Festival is central to the literary, cultural and intellectual life of the Northern Rivers region. Our key programs include the annual Byron Writers Festival, our free creative writing program for children StoryBoard, professional development services for our members, and our annual residential mentorship opportunity.

Our Vision

To create gatherings with powerful outcomes.

Our Mission

Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s regional meeting place of storytelling and ideas. We provide shared moments of human connection.

Our Values

Integrity, Respect, Connection, Creativity, Adventure

Integrity

Choosing what is right over what is fun, fast or easy; choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.

Respect

Respecting writers and their contribution to our world; respecting each other and differing opinions; respecting our partners, the environment; the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung nation and all Australian First Nations people.

Connection

Connecting across difference; bringing together diverse people, communities, voices, perspectives,  stories, ideas; connecting writers, readers, publishers, members, mentors, creative organisations, storytellers; engaging meaningfully through words, conversations and storytelling.

Creativity

Celebrating creativity, art and artists are intrinsic to what we do; we believe creativity is at the core of being human and thus is the heart-beat of the organisation; we are creative in the way we curate, program and present artists to audiences; we are creative in our organisation and working culture.

Adventure

A quest for intellectual, emotional, artistic, personal and collective adventure through storytelling; sparking curiosity, ideas, passion; opening our hearts and minds, daring greatly; what would the world look like if . . .

Our history

The Northern Rivers Writers’ Centre was incorporated in 1995, the home of the much-loved Byron Bay Writers Festival, first held in 1997. In 2016, the Centre and the Festival were amalgamated under one banner and renamed Byron Writers Festival. The Byron Writers Festival is staffed by a small dedicated team led by a volunteer Committee. The organisation is not-for-profit and receives its core funding from Create NSW.