Sat 29 March, 2025
7:30pm – 10:00pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Live @ The Founders Room
Salamanca Arts Centre
65b Woobys Lane, or for lift access enter through The Courtyard

$28 +bf each
$52 +bf for 2 x tickets
$91 +bf for 4 x tickets

Welcome to the Salamanca Jazz 2025 serieslive in the Founders Room on Woobys Lane.
The Modern Operative presents ‘Ten Dags on the Island’

Saturday 29th March 2025
Doors & bar open at 7pm
Music from 7:30pm 

The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre 

~~~~~

In this big concert, The Modern Operative perform as a ten-piece band, featuring some of Tasmania’s finest jazz musicians, including:

Kelly Ottaway, Les Johnston, Al Dobson, Matt Boden, Hamish Houston, Mitch Ellis, Spike Mason, Damien Kingston, Simon Ramirez, Tom Robb.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note that the Courtyard Lift IS OPERATING!

Doors & Bar open at 7pm
Music begins at 7.30pm
The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre.

Tickets are only $28 ea +BF, or buy two tix for $52+BF, or buy four tix for only $91+BF.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This concert at Salamanca Arts Centre is supported by Arts Tasmania’s 2025 Arts Projects Fund.
Salamanca Arts Centre is grateful for this support via Arts Tasmania and the Minister for the Arts.

More Live at the Founders Room 2025
More Salamanca Jazz
  • Events
  • Live Music
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Salamanca Jazz

Salamanca Jazz

The Modern Operative
Saturday 29 Mar 2025
Founders Room
View event

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.


Week Two Program

From Monday 7th – Saturday 12th April 2025

Monday 7th & Wednesday 9th April 2025 – 10AM
Via Booking Only

Young Writers High School Program
Presented by Tasmanian Indie Author Group & Salamanca Arts Centre
Salamanca Arts Centre are partnering with the Tasmanian Independent Author Group to present the Young Writers High School Program as a part of Hobart LitFest. This program offers high school students the opportunity to engage in three one-hour sessions led by independent authors from the Tasmanian Independent Author Group. During each session, students will participate in tailored writing workshops designed to inspire creativity, sharpen their writing skills, and explore new styles of expression. This interactive experience fosters a deeper connection to the writing process while encouraging self-expression and personal growth in a supportive, hands-on environment.
To find out more, please visit the school booking system here.

  • – – –

Monday 7th April 2025 – 5:30PM
Free Event

‘Pony Tales’ Book Launch and Children’s Picture Book Panel Discussion
Presented by Forty South Tasmania
Join us for the launch of “Pony Tales: For the Love of Shetland Ponies” by Jacqui Sinclair Dickson, a collection of spirited stories and vivid charcoal drawings from a life-long horse-lover, writer and vision-impaired artist. The book will be launched by award-winning author/illustrator Fiona Levings (co-regional co-ordinator of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), followed by a discussion with other Tasmanian author/illustrators on their creative process.

  • – – –

Tuesday 8th & Thursday 10th April 2025 – 10:30AM
Via Booking Only

Story Island Presents… ‘Mix, Match, Make!’

Collage and storytelling collide in this highly engaging and accessible creative workshop, brought to you by The Story Island Project.
In Mix, Match, Make!, students will experiment with text and images cut out from magazines, books and newspapers to create their very own stories or poems in collage form.
This dynamic workshop includes a mix of individual and group activities and, as students can engage with the materials at a variety of levels, it caters for a diverse range of abilities.
Each group will be led by one of Story Island’s expert Story Leaders, with additional student support from our trained team of volunteers.
To find out more, please visit the school booking system here.

About Story Island
The Story Island Project is a Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.
With the support of our enthusiastic volunteer tutors, Story Island runs free, dynamic storytelling workshops where young people are empowered to create their own stories.
Our vision is for young people to harness the power of their imaginations so they can grow to be resilient and creative shapers of their own lives.

  • – – –

Wednesday 9th April 2025 – 6:30PM
Free Event

Tassie Indies Read
Enjoy a showcase of Tasmanian Indie Authors reading their work. Ranging a number of genre styles of writing, come along and find your new favourite author!

  • – – –

Saturday 12th April – 10AM til 3PM
Free Event

2025 Tassie Indie Author Book Fair
Come along and check out Tassie’s best independent authors. Something for everyone with a range of genres on offer. Meet the authors! Buy the books! Book signings and giveaways! Find out more here.


Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

City of Hobart – Working together to make Hobart a better place for the community.

Forty South Tasmania – Tasmania’s biggest, most trusted book publisher.

Tasmanian Indie Authors Group – A diverse range of authors with one thing in common – we are all self-published!

Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.

The Hobart Bookshop – A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania. 

Island Magazine – A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.

Joval Wines – We bring people together with wine.

PROTEA Improv – We create unique theatre created in the moment, from Theatresports to an entire dramatic play.

Bad Company Theatre – Hobart’s scrappy theatrical upstart.

More SAC Supported
  • All Ages
  • Comedy
  • Events
  • Performances
  • Theatre

Theatresports™️

Presented by PROTEA Impro

Friday 28 Feb – Friday 28 Nov 2025
Founders Room
View event
  • All Ages
  • Exhibitions
  • Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Opening Event

Bevan’s Day

Jo Soszynski | Plum Birdy

Friday 7 – Friday 28 Mar 2025
Studio Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Friday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Thursday 3 – Friday 4 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Saturday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Saturday 5 – Saturday 5 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Sunday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Sunday 6 – Sunday 6 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.


Sunday Program

Sunday 6th April 2025 – 10:00AM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Festival Hub Open
Welcome to the Hobart LitFest Hub – a cozy retreat for ticket holders! Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee as you unwind in a comfortable space designed for writer and readers alike. Whether you’re here to sit back with a good book, jot down your thoughts, or simply connect with fellow festivalgoers, our hub offers a perfect escape. Come in, recharge, and take a moment to enjoy the slightly quieter side of the festival.

  • – – –

Sunday 6th April 2025 – 12:30PM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Creating Book Merch: Art and the Crowdfunding Author
Festival goers will be guided through how to create your own unique book merch using DIY craft, local resources, and creative partnerships to create extra value for your crowdfunding campaigns. The presenter, Tansy Rayner Roberts, will discuss her own experiences and take you through ways to boost book sales using art & craft in the digital age.

About the Presenter

Tansy Rayner Roberts (also writing as Livia Day) is a Tasmanian indie author with more than 25 years writing and publishing experience. She has won multiple awards including two Hugos,and was the co-host of two popular podcasts: Galactic Suburbia, and Verity. Tansy has run five successful crowdfunding campaigns and assisted on several more. You can find her as @tansyrr on Patreon, Insta, Bluesky and Threads.

Find Tansy on instagram here

– – –

Sunday 6th April 2025 – 1:45PM
Sunday Ticket / Festival Ticket

Tassie Fireside Chat – From Page To Screen with Belinda Bradley & Franz Docherty

Join us for From Page to Screen with screenwriters Belinda Bradley & Franz Docherty as they share the process of crafting a screenplay and bringing it to life on film. Get an insider’s look at what it truly takes to transform a written script into a dynamic film, with Belinda and Franz exploring the journey from the page to the screen. Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter, filmmaker, or film enthusiast, this event will offer valuable lessons and insider knowledge on the magic of storytelling for the screen.

About the writers
Belinda Bradley and Franz Docherty are award-winning creators, writers, and producers based in Hobart. They work across multiple platforms including television, film, and theatre, and have worked as freelance producers for ABC Radio National. They are co-creators and writers on their original six-part mystery drama series Savage River, produced with Aquarius Films and the ABC which premiered on the ABC and ABC iview in 2022, and is on Paramount Plus in the UK. Find out more about Belinda and Franz here.

  • – – –
  • Sunday 6th April 2025 – 2:45PM
  • Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Tassie Fireside Chat – Get Published, Tasmania!
Produced by Forty South Tasmania & Island Magazine

Tasmania is producing some of the finest writing in the country, supported by a diverse and growing publishing industry. Join Island’s Jane Rawson and Forty South’s Rayne Allinson and Lucinda Sharp for a deep dive into what these publishing outlets are looking for, and how to kick-start your publishing career here in Tasmania.

About the Presenters

Dr Rayne Allinson
Dr Rayne Allinson received her BA and MA at the University of Melbourne and her DPhil in History at the University of Oxford. She is the author of A Monarchy of Letters: Royal Correspondence and English Diplomacy in the Reign of Elizabeth I(Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). After a long career in academia, she is now Assistant Publisher at Forty South Publishing, a board member of TasWriters, and a bookseller at Fullers Bookshop where she runs the Reading Group.

Lucinda Sharp
Lucinda danced with The Australian Ballet from 1974 to 1984 and, after her performance career, became a rehearsal director/teacher for several regional dance companies. She then studied at the University of Western Australia, graduating in 1999 with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. On completion of her studies, Lucinda worked as a psychologist in the performing arts for the Australian Ballet School, the Australian Ballet company, the Australian National Academy of Music and in private practice. In 2012 Lucinda and her husband, Chris Champion, moved to Hobart where they own and operate Forty South Publishing, the largest Tasmanian book publisher and publishers of the iconic Forty South Tasmania (print and online magazine).

  • – – –

Sunday 6th April 2025 – 4:00PM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Hobart as a UNESCO City of Literature: What It Means for Tasmania
Join us for an exciting panel event on Hobart as a UNESCO City of Literature: What It Means for Tasmania’s Future. This forward-looking discussion will explore the transformative potential of Hobart’s UNESCO recognition, focusing on how it will shape the state’s literary and cultural landscape in the years ahead. Local authors and experts will discuss the opportunities for growth in the local literary scene, fostering collaborations, and nurturing a new generation of writers and creatives. Don’t miss this chance to hear how Hobart’s designation is paving the way for a brighter, more dynamic cultural future for Tasmania.

About the Presenters

Dr Rayne Allinson
Dr Rayne Allinson received her BA and MA at the University of Melbourne and her DPhil in History at the University of Oxford. She is the author of A Monarchy of Letters: Royal Correspondence and English Diplomacy in the Reign of Elizabeth I(Palgrave Macmillan, 2012). After a long career in academia, she is now Assistant Publisher at Forty South Publishing, a board member of TasWriters, and a bookseller at Fullers Bookshop where she runs the Reading Group.

  • – – –

Sunday 6th April 2025 – 5:00PM
Sunday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

LitFest Networking Event
Join us at the Hobart LitFest Festival Hub for an exclusive networking event! Connect with fellow book lovers, authors, and industry professionals in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere. Enjoy a complimentary drink upon entry as you mingle and share your passion for literature. This is the perfect opportunity to make new connections, exchange ideas, and be part of a vibrant literary community. Don’t miss out on this exciting event – where creativity and conversation flow!


Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

City of Hobart – Working together to make Hobart a better place for the community.

Forty South Tasmania – Tasmania’s biggest, most trusted book publisher.

Tasmanian Indie Authors Group – A diverse range of authors with one thing in common – we are all self-published!

Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.

The Hobart Bookshop – A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania. 

Island Magazine – A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.

Joval Wines – We bring people together with wine.

PROTEA Improv – We create unique theatre created in the moment, from Theatresports to an entire dramatic play.

Bad Company Theatre – Hobart’s scrappy theatrical upstart.

More SAC Supported
  • All Ages
  • Comedy
  • Events
  • Performances
  • Theatre

Theatresports™️

Presented by PROTEA Impro

Friday 28 Feb – Friday 28 Nov 2025
Founders Room
View event
  • All Ages
  • Exhibitions
  • Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Opening Event

Bevan’s Day

Jo Soszynski | Plum Birdy

Friday 7 – Friday 28 Mar 2025
Studio Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Friday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Thursday 3 – Friday 4 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Saturday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Saturday 5 – Saturday 5 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Week Two Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event


Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.


Saturday Program

Saturday 5th April 2025 – 12:00PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Opening Lines and Unresolved Issues: How to begin and how to end a really good story
Katherine Johnson, Kathryn Lomer and Robbie Arnott are all Award-winning Tasmanian authors, who will be sharing some insights as to how they set their opening scenes, what to say at the end, and what might be best left unsaid.

  • – – –

Saturday 5th April 2025 – 1:15PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

People are so Gullible: Do Facts in History even matter anymore?
Our world is full of heavy words and grand proclamations hurled with such passion and force because someone wants us to believe them. But saying something does not make it so. Esteemed Tasmanian historians Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Robert Cox and Alison Alexander remind us of the value of Fact and Evidence in Writing History.

– – –

Saturday 5th April 2025 – 2:30PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Short stories and Long shots: Weaving the improbable with the credible (in under 5,000 words)
The short story has been a valued and favoured form for writers and readers for hundreds of years. What art is there in fashioning an engaging tale without the freedom of unlimited length.  Cameron Hindrum, Leigh Swinbourne and Mallika Naguran have each published collections of short stories, and will share their thoughts on how to tame big ideas in order to reveal all that the reader needs to know, sometimes in only a few pages.

– – –

Saturday 5th April 2025 – 3:45PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Burning Bridges, Burning Books & Burning Issues
We have always lauded a writer’s courage to say what needs to be said. With subtlety and satire, history’s sacred cows have been subjected to scrutiny. Award-winning Tasmanian authors, including Adam Ouston, Gina Mercer, and Ben Walter ponder the rights and obligations of the contemporary writer to say what they wish to say in an increasingly complex world.

– – –

Saturday 5th April 2025 – 5PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

A Distillation of the Language: Why Poetry is the highest form of writing.
In this provocation, Pete Hay, Anne Kellas, and Sarah Day; three of Tasmania’s most highly regarded poets, will share why Poetry is their chosen form, and how Poetry, alone, allows human concerns, both personal and universal, to co-exist, and to be articulated within the most economic use of the English language.

– – –

Saturday 5th April 2025 – 7:30PM
Saturday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

The Great Debate – Plotting vs Pantsing
Are you a Plotter or a Pantser? Is it better to plot out every story point, every twist, every action, every scene? Or fly by the seat of your pants and go where the story or characters flows? Everyone does it differently, some do a little of both. Join us for a panel of Pantsers and Plotters as they debate whether it is better to plot out your novel or fly by the seat of your pants!

The Panelists

Lissa Bilyk
I’m Lissa, an Australian indie author and proud advocate of the Oxford comma! After spending a few years living in the UK, I now currently reside in the breathtakingly beautiful Tasmania/lutruwita with my husband and a black cat/feral gremlin. Armed with a BA (Hons) in English Literature, I craft bold, cinematic stories packed with heart-pounding action, thrilling adventure, and just the right amount of kissing! My debut novel, The Edge of Darkness, was published in 2011.

Ruth Amos
RJ (Ruth) Amos worked as a lecturer in chemistry for ten years before deciding that she’d much prefer to write for a living. She started her writing with some cosy mysteries, bringing in the drama of the academic world, and has moved on to experiment with science fiction. She has also written two self-help books: My Year of Saying NO and Boots That Fit, that share the lessons she learned as she simplified her life. She hopes that others will also experience the joy of a life that fits them perfectly.
Ruth is married to Moz, and they have two grown-up children, two children-in-law and three delightful grandkids. She loves reading, is a relatively unskilled knitter, and enjoys walking along the beach (pretty much any beach will do).

Mark Mannock
Amazon bestselling author Mark Mannock writes the successful Nicholas Sharp Thrillers sold in over 50 countries worldwide. Sharp is a complex character who turned his back on his life as a US Marine sniper to seek solace in his beloved piano. Despite his best efforts, Sharp’s insatiable curiosity combined with his inability to turn his back on those in trouble leads him into situations fraught with danger.
Mark’s new series, The Lachlan Byrn Thrillers, explore the fine line between an assassin, a vigilante, and a serial killer. Byrn’s escapades take the reader on an interesting journey into one man’s dark psychological make up.

DK Girl
Danielle K Girl is an Aussie living in stunning Tasmania with her three furkids, cats Luffy, Sweetie and Ren, and feathered fowl; hens, Calliope and Hyacinth. She has just completed an 8-book historical fantasy series with queer romance, set in Victorian England. When she’s not listening to Kpop, D K Girl is reading up on all the mythologies of the world to find inspiration for more stories of the supernatural and strange.
Come say Hello on the socials! instagram – daniellekgirl facebook – DKGirlbooks

Lou Powers
Ex soldier, sports coach, former IT professional, previously unemployed bum and one-time pizza delivery driver, Lou Powers weaves aspects of his entire life into his stories, often drawing on real-life experiences for inspiration. The author of the Jimmy Eyebrow – Budget Hitman series of books, Lou plots his stories out at the highest level, but once the writing starts, the chaos begins. He knows where he’s going, but hasn’t a clue how he’s going to get there, which is then ultimately reflected in the shambolic journey that Jimmy Eyebrow and his cohorts inevitably find themselves embarking on in each book.
In full understanding that his works are as likely to win a literary award as he is of being appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lou instead hopes simply that his readers get enjoyment out of his stories and read them through the same ridiculous lens with which they were written.

David Webby
David, originally born in New Zealand, has lived in various parts of Australia and currently lives in the beautiful Huon Valley in Tasmania, with his wife, two labradoodles, and a few chooks. He is a man of many talents; juggler, photographer, and bee keeper, to name a few, and loves hiking the wilds of Tasmania. A self-confessed ‘Foot Magician’ (aka Podiatrist), by day. David loves the life balance of work and home life. It gives him time for personal and creative pursuits, including writing.
David has been writing for over ten years. After a hilarious incident, when two mice jumped out of the car upon their return from a Bunya Mountains holiday, his wife, Victoria, said ‘that was so funny. You should write a story about that!’ Thus, the adventures of Harry and Larry were born. Including stories originating from an extended camping holiday around Australia in 2016, the trilogy ‘The Misadventures of Harry and Larry’ was produced. It was officially published in 2022.

Simon Thiessen
I am Simon James (S.J.) Thiessen. I live in Hobart, Tasmania with my wife Jane, and have four children. I started writing Aether to fulfill a lifelong dream of writing a novel. My writing was a hobby, a distraction from my work as an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author of business books and podcaster – which is why Aether took so long to write!
As I wrote, I realised I didn’t really want to write a novel. I wanted to be a novelist and so the DI Stratton series will continue to expand.
My stories are inspired by a love of mysteries and overlaid with themes I am passionate about: Tasmania, dyslexia, triathlon, inclusiveness and equity, and a healthy dose of anti-establishment-ism.
Like DI Terry Stratton, I am an enthusiastic, rather than talented, triathlete and have represented Australia twelve times in age group world championships in Beijing, Auckland, Chicago, Cozumel (Mexico), Adelaide and Montreal.
My favourite authors include Ian Rankin whose evocative description of Edinburgh makes me feel I have lived there despite never (yet) visiting, and Reginald Hill for his wonderful characters and intriguing plots. I hope the influence of both is apparent in my writing.

Cary Lenehan
Cary Lenehan is a former trades assistant, soldier, public servant, cab driver, truck driver, game designer, fishmonger, horticulturalist and university tutor – among other things. His hobbies include collecting and reading books (the non-fiction are Dewey decimalised), Tasmanian native plants (particularly the edible ones), medieval re-creation and gaming. He has taught people how to use everything from short-swords to rocket launchers. He met his wife at an SF Convention while cosplaying and they have been together since that time. He was born in Sydney before marrying and moving to the Snowy Mountains where they started their family. They moved to Tasmania for the warmer winters. Looking out of the window beside Cary’s computer in Hobart/nipaluna is a sweeping view of Mount Wellington/kunanyi and its range of mountains.


Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

City of Hobart – Working together to make Hobart a better place for the community.

Forty South Tasmania – Tasmania’s biggest, most trusted book publisher.

Tasmanian Indie Authors Group – A diverse range of authors with one thing in common – we are all self-published!

Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.

The Hobart Bookshop – A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania. 

Island Magazine – A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.

Joval Wines – We bring people together with wine.

PROTEA Improv – We create unique theatre created in the moment, from Theatresports to an entire dramatic play.

Bad Company Theatre – Hobart’s scrappy theatrical upstart.

More SAC Supported
  • All Ages
  • Comedy
  • Events
  • Performances
  • Theatre

Theatresports™️

Presented by PROTEA Impro

Friday 28 Feb – Friday 28 Nov 2025
Founders Room
View event
  • All Ages
  • Exhibitions
  • Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Opening Event

Bevan’s Day

Jo Soszynski | Plum Birdy

Friday 7 – Friday 28 Mar 2025
Studio Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Friday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Thursday 3 – Friday 4 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Sunday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Sunday 6 – Sunday 6 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Week Two Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event


Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.


Friday Program

Friday 4th April 2025 – 4:00PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Festival Hub Open
Welcome to the Hobart LitFest Hub – a cozy retreat for ticket holders! Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee as you unwind in a comfortable space designed for writer and readers alike. Whether you’re here to sit back with a good book, jot down your thoughts, or simply connect with fellow festivalgoers, our hub offers a perfect escape. Come in, recharge, and take a moment to enjoy the slightly quieter side of the festival.

– – –

Friday 4th April 2025 – 5:30PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Tasmanian Literary Prize Longlist Open Mic
Join us for a special Open Mic session featuring Tasmanian Literary Prize Longlist authors! This intimate event offers a chance to hear short snippets of their captivating works, as they share their stories and voices with Hobart audiences. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience firsthand the talent and creativity of these exciting authors.

– – –

Friday 4th April 2025 – 7:00PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

Scratch Night with Bad Company Theatre
Step into the creative world of Hobart’s emerging playwrights at our Scratch Night! Join us for an evening of play readings, showcasing new works by up-and-coming local writers. Facilitated by the talented team at Bad Company Theatre, this is a unique opportunity to experience raw, untapped stories in their early stages. Be part of the creative process, offer feedback, and witness the future of Hobart theatre unfold!

  • – – –

Friday 4th April 2025 – 7:00PM
Friday Ticket / Full Festival Ticket

JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
Join PROTEA Impro as we perform a classic novel in JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. Which book? Well that’s up to you! As a Hobart LitFest special treat we’ll be asking about your favourite romance novels, romantic characters and Tas literature and then we’ll see them come to life in a stunning (or bewildering) improvised stage adaptation. Will it be a faithful adaptation? Not even close: Just give us some titles, some plot points, maybe a couple of characters and we’ll do the rest.

See you on Friday April 4th for 
JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER 
‘Let’s build a romance novel!’

PROTEA Impro
PROTEA Impro is Tasmania’s leading improvised theatre company. Specialising in full length plays and narrative works which they have performed across the country and overseas. They also hold the Tasmanian licence for Theatresports™️ which they perform monthly at The Founders Room SAC. 

PROTEA Impro’s 2025 season is supported by Salamanca Arts Centre 

Tasmanian improvisation. Follow us on Insta @proteaimpro


Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

City of Hobart – Working together to make Hobart a better place for the community.

Forty South Tasmania – Tasmania’s biggest, most trusted book publisher.

Tasmanian Indie Authors Group – A diverse range of authors with one thing in common – we are all self-published!

Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.

The Hobart Bookshop – A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania. 

Island Magazine – A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.

Joval Wines – We bring people together with wine.

PROTEA Improv – We create unique theatre created in the moment, from Theatresports to an entire dramatic play.

Bad Company Theatre – Hobart’s scrappy theatrical upstart.

More SAC Supported
  • All Ages
  • Comedy
  • Events
  • Performances
  • Theatre

Theatresports™️

Presented by PROTEA Impro

Friday 28 Feb – Friday 28 Nov 2025
Founders Room
View event
  • All Ages
  • Exhibitions
  • Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Opening Event

Bevan’s Day

Jo Soszynski | Plum Birdy

Friday 7 – Friday 28 Mar 2025
Studio Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Saturday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Saturday 5 – Saturday 5 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Sunday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Sunday 6 – Sunday 6 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Week Two Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event

Celebrate Hobart’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature at Hobart LitFest!

Join us for a dynamic program showcasing Tasmania’s finest writers, with engaging panels, book launches, interactive workshops, and intimate readings. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the literary talent that makes Hobart unique. The festival will culminate in an exciting Independent Book Fair, where you can discover and support local independent authors and publishers. Don’t miss out on this celebration of words, culture, and creativity in the heart of Tasmania.

Salamanca Arts Centre’s Hobart LitFest runs from Thursday 3rd until Saturday 12th April 2025 in the Long Gallery and is supported by the City of Hobart, and sponsored by Forty South Tasmania, Island Magazine, The Hobart Bookshop, and many other Tasmanian organisations, groups, and businesses.

Full Program for the Hobart LitFest 2025 can be found online HERE


Thursday 3rd April 2025 – 6:30PM
Opening Event including Keynote Speech by Peter Timms

How have we become a City of Literature & how do we compare?
Join us for the official opening of the festival followed by a keynote speech by Peter Timms, through which we will explore the journey that led to our city being recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature. Delve into the rich literary history, cultural influences, and key milestones that have shaped our city’s identity in the literary world. We’ll also compare our literary standing to other global cities, highlighting what sets us apart and what we can learn from their successes. Don’t miss this chance to reflect on our literary legacy and future over drinks and nibbles!

About the Presenter
Peter Timms held curatorial positions in Australian museums between 1973 and 1988. He was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1984 and an Australia Council Senior Writers’ Fellowship in 1994. Since 1988 he has been a freelance journalist and author, including five years as editor of Art Monthly Australia and art critic for The Age. Peter has published eleven books, including Australian Studio Pottery, Making Nature, What’s Wrong with Contemporary Art?, Australia’s Quarter Acre, Private Lives, and Hobart. His first novel, Asking for Trouble, was published by HarperCollins in 2014. His most recent book is Silliness: a Serious History.


Full Program for the Hobart LitFest 2025 can be found online HERE

Find out more about Friday’s Program HERE

Find out more about Saturday’s Program HERE

Find out more about Sunday’s Program HERE

Find out more about Week Two’s Program HERE


Our Sponsors

Salamanca Art Centre’s Hobart LitFest is supported by the City of Hobart’s Event Grants Program.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support.

City of Hobart – Working together to make Hobart a better place for the community.

Forty South Tasmania – Tasmania’s biggest, most trusted book publisher.

Tasmanian Indie Authors Group – A diverse range of authors with one thing in common – we are all self-published!

Story Island Project – A Hobart-based not-for-profit organisation that nurtures the creativity and writing skills of young Tasmanians and celebrates their diverse voices.

The Hobart Bookshop – A proud independent and locally owned bookshop in Salamanca Square, Hobart, Tasmania. 

Island Magazine – A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features.

Joval Wines – We bring people together with wine.

PROTEA Improv – We create unique theatre created in the moment, from Theatresports to an entire dramatic play.

Bad Company Theatre – Hobart’s scrappy theatrical upstart.


Sat 1 March, 2025
7:30pm – 10:00pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Live @ The Founders Room
Salamanca Arts Centre
65b Woobys Lane, or for lift access enter through The Courtyard

$28 +bf each
$52 +bf for 2 x tickets
$91 +bf for 4 x tickets

Welcome to the launch of the Salamanca Jazz 2025 serieslive in the Founders Room on Woobys Lane.
The Jode Brewster Trio performs Joe Henderson’s landmark album, ‘The State Of The Tenor’ (Live at The Village Vanguard).

Saturday 1st March 2025
Doors & bar open at 7pm
Music from 7:30pm 

The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre 

~~~~~~~~~~

In this concert, which will launch our Salamanca Jazz 2025 concert series, the Jode Brewster Trio will pay tribute to Joe Henderson’s landmark album, The State Of The Tenor (Live at The Village Vanguard). Recorded in 1985 in New York, this album is held in very high regard as one of the most important albums that worked towards the development of chord-less trio performance and the jazz language as a whole.
The Jode Brewster Trio will perform the album in its entirety, plus some additional tunes from surrounding Joe Henderson Albums and other favourites.
This band promises to deliver a captivating performance along with information about the tunes to give listeners a deeper understanding of the music.

Jed Adams is a Hobart-based double-bass and saxophone player. He has been in and around the Hobart scene for over 10 years, and has had the fortune of collaborating with some of Hobart’s best musicians in that time.

Bass player, Jed Adams
Dude, with a knowing look on his face, standing in front of a yellow wall, and with his left hand resting, casually, but not carelessly, on a double bass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris McGuinness-Terry is one of the most prominent young jazz drummers in Hobart. With a passion for collaboration and cross-pollination between genres, Chris also plays with a variety of artists in different groups and capacities within the Hobart music scene.

Chris McGuinness-Terry
Dude, sporting a well-groomed beard, and wearing a rather ‘loud’ shirt and beige trousers, playing the drums, in front of the rock wall in the Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jode Brewster is an emerging saxophone artist from Hobart, who passionately embraces the jazz language; drawing inspiration from legends like John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Sonny Stitt, and Joe Henderson.

Jode Brewtser
A young gentleman, wearing glasses and a mid-blue shirt and dark trousers, performing on a saxophone.

Please note that the Courtyard Lift IS OPERATING!

Doors & Bar open at 7pm
Music begins at 7.30pm
The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre.

Tickets are only $28 ea +BF, or buy two tix for $52+BF, or buy four tix for only $91+BF.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This concert at Salamanca Arts Centre is supported by Arts Tasmania’s 2025 Arts Projects Fund.
Salamanca Arts Centre is grateful for this support via Arts Tasmania and the Minister for the Arts.

More Jazz @ Salamanca
  • Events
  • Live Music
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Salamanca Jazz

Salamanca Jazz

The Modern Operative
Saturday 29 Mar 2025
Founders Room
View event
More Live at the Founders Room 2025
More Salamanca Jazz
  • Events
  • Live Music
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Salamanca Jazz

Salamanca Jazz

The Modern Operative
Saturday 29 Mar 2025
Founders Room
View event

Exhibition Dates :
Thursday 6 February – Monday 3 March 2025

Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Weekends CLOSED


A collection of landscape and seascape paintings on paper, by Hannah Blackmore.


Between Land and Sea is a captivating collection of miniature framed paintings on paper inspired by the ever-changing beauty of the Tasmanian coastline. These works explore the land and ocean meeting point, capturing the rhythmic interplay of light and atmosphere unique to this rugged environment. Each painting reflects the raw power of the sea, the subtle hues of coastal terrain, and the quiet moments of transition between tides. Intimate in scale yet expansive in vision, this collection invites viewers to experience the Tasmanian coastline through a lens of delicate detail and poetic abstraction.

More SAC Resident Artists
  • All Ages
  • Exhibitions
  • Free
  • Kid Friendly
  • Opening Event

Bevan’s Day

Jo Soszynski | Plum Birdy

Friday 7 – Friday 28 Mar 2025
Studio Gallery
View event
More SAC Supported
  • All Ages
  • Comedy
  • Events
  • Performances
  • Theatre

Theatresports™️

Presented by PROTEA Impro

Friday 28 Feb – Friday 28 Nov 2025
Founders Room
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Friday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Thursday 3 – Friday 4 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Saturday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Saturday 5 – Saturday 5 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Sunday Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Sunday 6 – Sunday 6 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Free
  • Hobart LitFest
  • Meet the Artist
  • Opening Event
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Talks

Hobart LitFest – Week Two Program

Presented by Salamanca Arts Centre

Monday 7 – Saturday 12 Apr 2025
Long Gallery
View event

Sat 23 November 2024
7:30pm – 10:00pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Live @ The Founders Room
Salamanca Arts Centre
65b Woobys Lane, or for lift access enter through The Courtyard

$27 +bf each
$50 +bf for 2 x tickets
$88 +bf for 4 x tickets

Salamanca Jazz’ is Live in the Founders Room on Woobys Lane, with 
Mia Palencia, joined by two more powerhouses of the Tasmanian vocal Jazz scene; Elly Hoyt and Katy Raucher. 

Saturday 23rd November 2024
Doors & bar open at 7pm
Music from 7:30pm 

The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre 

~~~~~
Join us as we celebrate a rare concert featuring three powerhouses of the Tasmanian vocal jazz scene. Elly, Katy and Mia will draw from the jazz song books to present fresh interpretations of their favourites, alongside some original pieces. 
Joined by excellent jazz cats Matt Boden, Hamish Houston and Tom Robb; this will be a night not to be missed!

Elly Hoyt
Elly Hoyt

~~~~~~~~~~

Katy Raucher
Katy Raucher

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mia Palencia
Mia Palencia

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note that the Courtyard Lift IS OPERATING!

Doors & Bar open at 7pm
Music begins at 7.30pm
The Founders Room on Woobys Lane
Salamanca Arts Centre.

Tickets are only $27 ea +BF, or buy two tix for $50 +BF, or buy four tix for only $88 +BF.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More Jazz @ Salamanca
  • Events
  • Live Music
  • Performances
  • Salamanca Arts Curated
  • Salamanca Jazz

Salamanca Jazz

The Modern Operative
Saturday 29 Mar 2025
Founders Room
View event