Varuna - The Writers House - Varuna Community Program

Varuna's Community Program is a partnership between the Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd and the Blue Mountains City Council. The Varuna Community Program is funded through the Council's Cultural Partnerships Program.

The Varuna Community Program provides the writers and readers of the Blue Mountains with a range of opportunities to engage with the lively national and international community of writers constantly involved with Varuna's many programs and activities. The program provides a regular meeting place to promote the sustained exploration of the possibilities and rewards of writing, and professional opportunities for writers to obtain experienced attention and advice.

The Community Program for 2008 will operate on a slightly different model.

Due to different funding arrangements for 2008, we've had to change the model to make certain elements of the program self-supporting. Instead of having a Community Associates Program, with an annual fee of $55, we aim to offer a range of programs and events, which we will promote to those on a Community Mailing List. People will not need to pay an annual fee and instead will book/pay for those courses/programs they wish to attend throughout the year.
We have worked hard to find a framework that will allow us to maintain as many aspects of the existing program as we can, despite smaller levels of funding and no definite funding commitment for next year. We have also looked to improve the variety of events and activities we can provide to the Blue Mountains community of readers and writers. We thank you for your past support of the Varuna Community Program, and we look forward to your continuing participation in the community events and courses we have planned for 2008.
Please fill out the Community Mailing List /Booking form to be on the Community Mailing List for 2008 and indicate which programs you would like to participate in.

COMMUNITY MAILING LIST
To be kept informed of programs and events, please complete a COMMUNITY MAILING LIST/Booking form and send it to Varuna.

What will be offered in 2008:

COMMUNITY WRITERS' & READERS' DAY* (with the same format as it has been in 2007)

VARUNA WRITERS' WORKSHOPS*

CONSULTATION DAYS

EVENTS IN 2008

COMMUNITY WRITERS' AND READERS' DAY 2008
Helen Barnes-Bulley

The Varuna Writers' and Readers' Day provides a regular meeting place for writers and readers to think about what writing can do and to meet and talk with one of the many national and international writers visiting Varuna.

The convener is novelist, teacher and award-winning radio playwright Helen Barnes-Bulley.

Helen is a graduate of Sydney University and of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, where she studied Writing for Performance. For many years she wrote radio drama for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and was the recipient of an Australian Writers' Guild Award, and of the Bicentennial Literary Award for Radio Drama. She has had many pieces of short fiction published in literary journals and magazines, and has been working for some time on the manuscript of a novel. She has conducted writing classes at schools, universities and at Varuna, and currently teaches adult students in a university entrance course at TAFE. She has also worked for some years as a literary assessor and editor.

When: First Tuesday of the month, 10 months (excluding January and October)
Tutor: Helen Barnes-Bulley
Program: 10am-12:30pm (includes morning tea break / interview with resident
Varuna writer)
Cost: $120 per year ($12 per session x 10) - if you join in July, the cost is $60 for the remainder of the year.

*Please note we will need a Minimum of 10 participants to run each workshop / course and the fee would need to be paid upfront.

CONSULTATION DAYS
A professional service for the writers of the Blue Mountains

Four days of consultations for local writers were held in April this year with Creative Director, Peter Bishop. These are designed for local writers who are actively engaged in writing practice, so they can receive professional attention and advice on their work.

EVENTS IN 2008
SYDNEY WRITERS' FESTIVAL was held in Katoomba, with a fabulous presentation across a two-day program at the Carrington Hotel, including international guests and writers from around Australia.

We plan to run another LONGLINES COMMUNITY WEEK, with a week-long program including workshops and consultations provided by 5 writers chosen from Varuna's National Alumni program, as well as an 'Open Day' with readings held in the Varuna garden. Again, more on that will be sent out closer to the time. But you can pencil it in your diary for 6-12 October 2008.

Varuna Writers' Retreat and Literary Centre is located in the heart of the Blue Mountains and is owned and managed by the Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd. ABN: 12 003 806 371. This site is copyright Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd.



						Varuna - The Writers' House Varuna Community Program

				Varuna's Community Program is a partnership between the Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd and the Blue Mountains City Council. The Varuna Community Program is funded through the Council's Cultural Partnerships Program. The Varuna Community Program provides the writers and readers of the Blue Mountains with a range of opportunities to engage with the lively national and international community of writers constantly involved with Varuna's many programs and activities. The program provides a regular meeting place to promote the sustained exploration of the possibilities and rewards of writing, and professional opportunities for writers to obtain experienced attention and advice. The Community Program for 2008 will operate on a slightly different model. Due to different funding arrangements for 2008, we've had to change the model to make certain elements of the program self-supporting. Instead of having a Community Associates Program, with an annual fee of $55, we aim to offer a range of programs and events, which we will promote to those on a Community Mailing List. People will not need to pay an annual fee and instead will book/pay for those courses/programs they wish to attend throughout the year. We have worked hard to find a framework that will allow us to maintain as many aspects of the existing program as we can, despite smaller levels of funding and no definite funding commitment for next year. We have also looked to improve the variety of events and activities we can provide to the Blue Mountains community of readers and writers. We thank you for your past support of the Varuna Community Program, and we look forward to your continuing participation in the community events and courses we have planned for 2008. Please fill out the Community Mailing List /Booking form to be on the Community Mailing List for 2008 and indicate which programs you would like to participate in. COMMUNITY MAILING LIST To be kept informed of programs and events, please complete a COMMUNITY MAILING LIST/Booking form and send it to Varuna. What will be offered in 2008: COMMUNITY WRITERS' & READERS' DAY* (with the same format as it has been in 2007) VARUNA WRITERS' WORKSHOPS* CONSULTATION DAYS EVENTS IN 2008 VARUNA COMMUNITY MAILING LIST To be kept informed of programs and events, please complete a COMMUNITY MAILING LIST/ Booking form and send it to Varuna. Click on VARUNA COMMUNITY MAILING LIST/Booking form COMMUNITY WRITERS' AND READERS' DAY 2008 The Varuna Writers' and Readers' Day provides a regular meeting place for writers and readers to think about what writing can do and to meet and talk with one of the many national and international writers visiting Varuna. The convener is novelist, teacher and award-winning radio playwright Helen Barnes-Bulley. Helen is a graduate of Sydney University and of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, where she studied Writing for Performance. For many years she wrote radio drama for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and was the recipient of an Australian Writers' Guild Award, and of the Bicentennial Literary Award for Radio Drama. She has had many pieces of short fiction published in literary journals and magazines, and has been working for some time on the manuscript of a novel. She has conducted writing classes at schools, universities and at Varuna, and currently teaches adult students in a university entrance course at TAFE. She has also worked for some years as a literary assessor and editor. When: First Tuesday of the month, 10 months (excluding January and October) Tutor: Helen Barnes-Bulley Program: 10am-12:30pm (includes morning tea break / interview with resident Varuna writer) Cost: $120 per year ($12 per session x 10) - if you join in July, the cost is $60 for the remainder of the year. VARUNA WRITERS' WORKSHOPS* Following the popularity of Patti Miller's course, we plan to run three different workshop courses in 2008. Each course will be 5 weeks in length, held over 5 consecutive Fridays, from 10am to 1pm. The first of these was a poetry workshop with Deb Westbury in February, 'Strictly Poetry'. Patti Miller will present the second workshop in the genre of life writing (see below), in August. The third workshop is yet to be decided. Details will be posted here closer to the time. Workshop No. 2: ‘Writing Your Life’ with Patti Miller A five week course on life writing. Learn how to access memory, write with vivid detail, bring your experience to life on the page, find your writing voice, find the story and the shape of your life on the page. It will be a small group in an encouraging and creative atmosphere at Varuna, The Writer’s House and will be suitable for beginners as well as those who have made a start - individual attention with a maximum of 12 enrolled. Participants will need to obtain a copy of the Set Text (see below). Patti Miller is the author of the best-selling Writing Your Life (writing text), The Last One Who Remembers (memoir) and Child (a novel), Whatever The Gods Do (memoir) and The Memoir Book. She has taught creative writing classes at universities and writers’ centres around Australia for many years, specialising in ‘life writing’ since 1991. She has a BA and MA in Writing from UTS. She also assesses and edits life writing and fiction manuscripts and many manuscripts she has worked on have been published. See her website: www.lifestories.com.au Set Text: Writing Your Life (2001) - available at bookshops. (Try Megalong Books in Leura) To book: First email varuna@varuna.com.au to inquire if there are still spaces available and if so, please send payment of $220 using the booking form. Dates: 1st – 29th August 2008 (five consecutive Fridays) Venue: Varuna, the Writers' House, 141 Cascade St, Katoomba Duration: 10am to 1pm (includes morning tea break) Facilitator/Tutor: Patti Miller Cost: $220 per course Please note we will need a Minimum of 10 participants to run each workshop / course and the fee would need to be paid upfront. CONSULTATION DAYS* A professional service for the writers of the Blue Mountains Four days of consultations for local writers were held in April this year with Creative Director, Peter Bishop. These are designed for local writers who are actively engaged in writing practice, so they can receive professional attention and advice on their work. EVENTS IN 2008 SYDNEY WRITERS' FESTIVAL was held in Katoomba, with a fabulous presentation across a two-day program at the Carrington Hotel, including international guests and writers from around Australia. We plan to run another LONGLINES COMMUNITY WEEK, with a week-long program including workshops and consultations provided by 5 writers chosen from Varuna's National Alumni program, as well as an 'Open Day' with readings held in the Varuna garden. Again, more on that will be sent out closer to the time. But you can pencil it in your diary for 6-12 October 2008. CONTACTING THE WRITERS' HOUSE 141 Cascade St, Katoomba, NSW 2780, Australia Telephone: (02) 4782 5674 - International callers: +61 2 47 82 5674 Fax: (02) 4782 6220 - International faxes: +61 2 47 82 6220 Email: varuna@varuna.com.au - click here to email Varuna [Home][What we Offer to Writers][Supporting Varuna][News and Diary][Links for Writers] [Staying at Varuna][Varuna Alumni][Site Guide][Contacting Varuna] Varuna Writers' Retreat and Literary Centre is located in the heart of the Blue Mountains and is owned and managed by the Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd. ABN: 12 003 806 371. This site is copyright Eleanor Dark Foundation Ltd. Site most recently updated 6 March, 2008. Acknowledgements: Site by Anderson Web Design Woodcuts by Irene Coates