Hobart celebrates World Literacy Day as a UNESCO City of Literature
Published on 07 September 2025
The City of Hobart will commemorate World Literacy Day with a special event celebrating its designation as a UNESCO City of Literature, bringing together writers, publishers, storytellers and literacy advocates to explore the power of words in shaping communities and driving social change.
The City of Literature Forum will be held on Monday 8 September, from 6–8pm in the Town Hall Ballroom, and is free to attend with bookings essential.
The evening will feature guest speakers from across the literary and literacy sectors, followed by a networking session.
The event will feature a diverse lineup of speakers including Theresa Sainty on palawa kani and First Nations storytelling, Jane Rawson from Island Magazine, poet Young Dawkins, and representatives from libraries, multicultural organisations, and local publishers.
Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2023 places it among a global network of cities committed to creativity as a driver of sustainable development. The city joins other literary hubs such as Edinburgh, Melbourne and Dublin in promoting reading, writing and publishing as central to civic life.
The forum is part of the City of Hobart’s Creative Hobart initiative and reflects its commitment to supporting the arts, fostering literacy, and amplifying Tasmanian stories.
Quotes to be attributed to Acting Hobart Lord Mayor Dr Zelinda Sherlock:
“Hobart has always been a place where stories flourish — from the oral traditions of the Palawa people to the vibrant literary voices of today.
“This forum is an opportunity to celebrate our past, present and future as a city of readers, writers and publishers, and to explore how literature can be a powerful tool for inclusion, education and community building.”
Quotes to be attributed to forum speaker, Hobartisan Books founder Niki Horin:
“Being part of a UNESCO Creative City means recognising the value of every voice and every story.
“This event is about bringing people together — writers, publishers, librarians, educators — to imagine what a truly inclusive literary future looks like for Hobart.”