Tuesday 1 December: Byron Writers Festival is hosting an evening with Yuwaalaraay writer and Writing NSW board member Nardi Simpson to discuss her debut novel Song of the Crocodile. This live, COVID-safe event will be held at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall from 7:30pm. Book tickets here.
Tuesday 1 December: Gleebooks presents this online panel with Angela Saini, Alana Lentin and Gavan Titley, moderated by Dr Debbie Bargallie with a focus on their works Why Race Still Matters and Is Free Speech Racist? On Zoom from 7pm, register here.
Wednesday 2 December: As part of their Broadly Speaking series, The Wheeler Centre presents Quarantine Cravings, an online exploration of how this bizarre year has changed our attitudes towards cooking at home. Featuring cooks and food writers Julia Busuttil Nishimura, Ixta Belfrange and Hawa Hassan. Book here.
Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 December: Byron Writers Festival presents Writers on the Road 2020, a collection of free events across Kingscliff, Harwood, Bellingen and Bonalbo with a crew of literary panellists. See here for details and bookings.
Thursday 3 December: Better Read than Dead presents this online discussion with Patti Miller and authors Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell, on their new release Searching for Charlotte: The Fascinating Story of Australia’s First Children’s Author. On Zoom from 6:30pm, register here.
Thursday 3 December: On the International Day of People with a Disability, Australia Council for the Arts will be presenting awards to Australian artists and arts workers who have made an outstanding contribution to to the artistic and cultural life of the nation at the National Arts and Disability Awards. Tune in from 2:00pm.
Friday 4 December: Queensland Writers is hosting a live streamed Christmas party online, featuring a Q&A with author Rosalie Ham. RSVP here.
Friday 4 – Sunday 13 December: The Japanese Film Festival presents a completely online festival in 2020 – JFF Plus: Online Festival. Audiences will have free access to films for 24 hours, as well as panels and conversations with writers, directors and film-makers.
Friday 4 December: Save this date for the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards, presented by ACT Writers. Keep an eye here for more information.
Saturday 5 December: South Coast Writers Centre will be unveiling their 2021 first quarter program and showcasing some of the region’s award winning writers. Plus, the event will include the SCWC big Christmas book sale and raffle, dinner and live music. From 6:30pm at the Coledale Community Hall, see more information here.
Monday 7 December: Avid Reader presents Beejay Silcox in discussion with author of Hysteria, Katerina Bryant. On Zoom from 6:30pm, book here.
Monday 7 December: Don’t miss the final Hemingway’s Polydactyl Kitten Club Speakeasy event of 2020, featuring writer poet and educator Kirli Saunders. This free online event starts at 7pm, see here for more info.
Monday 7 December: Better Read than Dead presents Michaela Kolowski in conversation with Mark Mordue about the release of Boy on Fire, his biography of musician Nick Cave. On Zoom from 6:30pm, register here.
Tuesday 8 December: Avid Reader presents Bronwyn Lea and David Malouf discussing Meanjin‘s 80th edition and celebration of 80 years of poetry. On Zoom from 6:30pm, register here.
Wednesday 9 December: ArtsHub presents Visions 2020, a conference that seeks to imagine a better future for the Australian arts sector. Free for members, early bird tickets available.
Wednesday 9 December: Avid Reader present an online conversation between Melissa Lucashenko, Bruce Pascoe and Vicky Shukuroglou about Loving Country: A Guide to Sacred Australia. On Zoom from 6:30pm, book here.
Thursday 10 December: In their closing event of the year, The Wheeler Centre brings together Trent Dalton, Bruce Pascoe, and Caro Llewellyn for a reflection on 2020. With a Welcome to Country from Parbin-Ata Carolyn Briggs, and poetic performances from Paul Kelly and Jazz Money. Book tickets to this online event here.
Tuesday 15 December: Diversity Arts is hosting a free industry talk to kick off StoryCasters Online Showcase. Join FBi Radio’s Tanya Ali and producer, pianist and composer Oli Chang.
Tuesday 15 December: Avid Reader presents an online discussion between Paul Barclay, Joëlle Gergis, James Bradley and Susan Harris Rimmer on the Elemental Summer, a collection published online by Griffith Review featuring writing from a selection of Australia’s most respected thinkers on climate. On Zoom from 6:30pm, register here.
Saturday 19 December: Gleebooks presents this online panel with Lynda Ng, Paul Sheehan and Anthony Uhlmann on his new work J.M Coetzee: Truth, Meaning, Fiction. This event is free but RSVPs are essential.