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

A world connected through stories.

Our Mission

We connect people and communities through the power of storytelling.

Our Values

Connection, Adventure, Hope, Courage, Integrity

Connection

Bringing together diverse people, communities, voices, perspectives, stories, ideas; creating moments of human connection; connecting writers, readers, publishers, members, mentors, creative organisations, storytellers; engaging meaningfully through conversations, storytelling, art, creativity, words, listening; connection across difference;

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 . . .

Hope

A belief in effecting change, even in the face of doubt and fear; moving through adversity together; hope through joy, laughter, conversation, connection, learning, listening; the transformative power of writing.

Courage

Choosing courage over comfort; the courage to invite ideas and perspectives different to our own; to be courageous in programming, communications and decision-making; to stand up for what we believe in; courage to drive change, to take risks, to navigate uncertainty;

Integrity

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

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.

Read our AGM report for 2018