About The Wheeler Centre
The Wheeler Centre is Australia’s only dedicated hub for Books, Writing and Ideas – a place where audiences connect with leading writers and thinkers from across Australia and the world.
The Wheeler Centre acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Centre stands.
We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their Elders, past and present as the custodians of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
The Wheeler Centre is Australia’s only dedicated hub for Books, Writing and Ideas – a place where audiences connect with leading writers and thinkers from across Australia and the world.
Our mission is simple: to create spaces for brave, respectful public conversation.
The Wheeler Centre played a key role in Melbourne being recognised as the world’s second UNESCO City of Literature in 2008. The Centre opened to the public in 2010, thanks to the vision of our founding patrons Maureen and Tony Wheeler, and the support of the Victorian Government. Our success reflects Victoria’s vibrant cultural life and the shared curiosity and love of ideas that bring our audiences together. Our year-round program reaches audiences across Australia and the world. We deliver events in our own performance space in Melbourne’s CBD, at various venues across Melbourne, in regional communities throughout Victoria and online.
As a not-for-profit organisation, we are committed to accessibility. Alongside low-cost ticket options, we offer Pay What You Wish events, free tickets and memberships for First Nations audiences, concessions for young people, students, seniors and concession-card holders and a No One Turned Away for a Lack of Funds program. Find out more here.
We also support the next generation of Australian writers through initiatives including Hot Desk Fellowships and The Next Chapter, programs that have helped launch and support the careers of hundreds of writers.
We are a literary hub, sharing our building with a vibrant community of literary organisations including Melbourne Writers Festival, Blak & Bright, Australian Book Review, the City of Literature Office, Writers Victoria, Express Media, Emerging Writers’ Festival and Australian Poetry.
Our building is located on Little Lonsdale Street beside State Library Victoria, in the heart of Melbourne’s literary precinct.
The Wheeler Centre brings people together through the exchange of stories and ideas, encouraging curiosity, listening and thoughtful provocation.
Through our public events, we have a responsibility to program broadly so that we reflect and excite the diverse communities we serve. We invite writers and thinkers with varied perspectives to discuss their work, share their insights and reflect on the experiences and influences that have shaped them.
We value our programming independence and are guided by integrity and a commitment to meaningful public conversation. Our events invite audiences to deepen their understanding of contemporary issues, challenge assumptions and encounter perspectives that may differ from their own. We aim to create programming that informs, inspires and even invites disagreement. We encourage speakers to express their views freely and respectfully. At times this may be confronting, and we recognise that words can challenge and unsettle, but we believe engaging with complexity is essential to a healthy and robust democracy. Holding this tension is not always easy and we approach it through a shared commitment with artists and audiences to engage with thoughtfulness, tolerance and respect.
The Wheeler Centre thanks the writing community for generously sharing your stories; our audiences for your willingness to listen and engage; and our patrons, partners, publishers, sponsors, donors and team for championing what we do.
Delivering Our Goals and Strategic Priorities
Storytelling and ideas for everyone, everywhere is our Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2028. It is an ambitious and expansive plan that aims to open pathways to reading, writing and debate to the broadest possible audience. We want to continually grow the number of people experiencing and engaging with The Wheeler Centre.
The strategy is framed around guiding principles that:
- Realise The Wheeler Centre as a leading physical and digital hub for writers, readers, storytellers and listeners.
- Facilitate thought-leading conversations and constructive debates that reflect,inspire and build community.
- Initiate new partnerships to diversify the Centre’s profile and audience base.
- Build our professional and creative development programs to secure ongoing investment and provide meaningful opportunities to writers and creators.
- Ensure the role and functions of The Wheeler Centre are transparent and accessible and removing barriers to entry.
- Partner with the Centre’s resident organisations through structured collaboration, allyship and support.
- Build our financial sustainability by cultivating new income streams and meaningful collaborations with donors, sponsors and partners.
- Participate in national strategy, advocacy and new initiatives relating to writing, storytelling and sector sustainability, in partnership with resident organisations and sector stakeholders.
Click the link below to find out more.
For a full list of current staff and board members, click here.
Download The Wheeler Centre’s annual reports via the links below. | |