Newcastle Writers Festival
Friday 04 April 2025 to Sunday 06 April 2025
Overview
Newcastle Writers Festival is a dynamic annual event held in April that celebrates books and brings together readers and much-loved writers. The three-day program features 150 emerging and…
Newcastle Writers Festival is a dynamic annual event held in April that celebrates books and brings together readers and much-loved writers. The three-day program features 150 emerging and established writers across 95 free and ticketed events.
The program, which centres on the Civic precinct and is close to public transport links, includes panel discussions, readings, book launches, performances, writing workshops and one-on-one interviews.
Previous guests have included Trent Dalton, Clementine Ford, Helen Garner, Stan Grant, and Michael Robotham. Readers have the opportunity to speak to their favourite writers and the hub of the festival is the pop-up bookshop where guest writers sign their books.
Accessibility
A quiet space is available at the venue/ facility
Allows a person's carer free entry into participating venues and events
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
Caters for people with allergies and intolerances.
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
Have a step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
Have a wheelchair accessible toilet / shower and change room
Have accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on your website (can be emailed on request)
Have accessible seating areas in theatrette
Have an accessible public toilet which is unlocked
Have doorways which are easy to open and have lever handles (doorways 850mm or wider when open and not heavy)
Have handrails on all your stairways
Have lifts with enough space for people using a mobility aid to enter and turn around to use the lift buttons. Buttons are at accessible height.
Have step free access to the conference or function room
Have step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
Modify your cooking and cleaning practices to cater for people with food allergies or chemical intolerances (could include menus with meals free from: nuts, dairy, seafood, eggs, gluten etc)
Offer a range of contact methods for receiving complaints
Offer multiple options for booking - web, email, phone
Provide assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Provide digital communication materials (hard copy information is also available on line)
Provide seating in common areas including reception area
Staff are trained in Auslan
Train your staff in disability awareness
Use easy read fonts in your signage and communication materials (Helvetica and Arial)
Use floors/coverings which are slip resistant, firm and smooth
Use Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
