Take action! PEN Poem Relay. Join the China Campaign!
• The Olympic Torch and PEN Poem Relay arrives in Australia
• Sydney PEN 2020 Summit Submission
• Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature

• Sydney PEN member Rhyll McMaster wins Barbara Jefferis Award
• The Australian Press Freedom Dinner
• Ticket Offer: The Serpent's Teeth, Sydney Theatre Company
• $25,000 Kit Denton Fellowship 2008
• QLD Premier's Literary Awards
• Inaugural Bryan Kelleher Literary Award
 

PEN Poem Relay - Take Action!

The International PEN Poem Relay Carries the Torch for Freedom of Expression in China

Since the torch began its journey in Greece on March 24, the poem 'June' by imprisoned Chinese poet and journalist Shi Tao is also relaying around the world, country to country, language to language. When the poem arrives at a new location, you can read and hear a new translation. The Olympic torch arrives in Canberra on Thursday 24 April and the Australian leg will include translations into Aboriginal and other languages that reflect our extraordinary linguistic diversity. The website www.penpoemrelay.org  presents a map of the world showing the progress of the poem relay, which takes its cue from the Olympic Torch Relay itinerary. Visit the website for the latest news and updates More...

Join the China Campaign. As the Beijing 2008 Olympics near, International PEN continues to call for improved civil and political rights for writers and journalists in China, and believes there are currently over 38 in Chinese prisons. Through its letter-writing campaigns and lobbying of foreign and local governments, PEN seeks to end both custodial and non-custodial forms of repression of writers' free expression. Take action to campaign for free expression in China.

BARBARA JEFFERIS AWARD 2008 WINNER ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to Sydney PEN member, Rhyll McMaster, whose book Feather Man is the winner of the first Barbara Jefferis Award for “the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society”.

The Australian Press Freedom Dinner – 2 May   
The Australian Press Freedom Dinner on 2 May unites journalists, entertainers and thinkers ahead of World Press Freedom Day. It is a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to hold those in power to account. Guest speaker will be International Editor of Time Magazine, Michael Elliott
Tickets are $130. For further information visit http://www.alliance.org.au/pressfreedom/

Sydney Theatre Company presents the STC Actors Company in ...

The Serpent’s Teeth By Daniel Keene
This month, the Sydney Theatre Company presents The STC Actors Company in The Serpent’s Teeth, a double-bill of two compelling and moving new plays by Daniel Keene. The two plays – Citizens and Soldiers – explore the real tragedy of war and its impact on ordinary, yet precious, lives.Multi-award winning writer Daniel Keene is one of the most performed Australian playwrights outside of the country. During the thirty years in which he has written for the theatre, his plays have earned critical praise and sell-out seasons in theatres and at festivals in Australia, the United States and across Europe.Don’t miss this opportunity to see the work of Daniel Keene on the Sydney Opera House’s Drama Theatre stage. We are delighted to extend this exclusive ticket offer from our friends at Sydney Theatre Company:
Purchase tickets to any performance of The Serpent’s Teeth from 25 April through to 9 May inclusive and pay the preview price of $50 per ticket (saving up to $27 per ticket)!

To book your tickets call the STC Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 and quote the ‘Daniel Keene’ offer. Please note: tickets are subject to availability, a $7 booking fee per transaction will apply.

$25,000 Kit Denton Fellowship 2008   
Applications are closing on 9 May for the annual $25,000 Kit Denton Fellowship, presented by the Australian Writers’ Foundation (AWF) with the generous support of Zapruders’ Other Films. The Kit Denton Fellowship, named in honour of the late father of media personality Andrew Denton, is to reward courage and excellence in performance writing and allows a writer to develop a project to be ready to present to market. A writer can demonstrate courage in their choice of project; their work; or the circumstances of their writing. The winner will be announced at the 41st Annual AWGIE Awards in Melbourne on 15 August 2008. For details on how to apply go to www.awg.com.au

The Queensland Premier's Literary Awardsare celebrating their 10th anniversary and nominations are now open with $225,000 in prize money across 14 categories. These awards have a proud history of recognising, celebrating and supporting talented writers on a national scale. For more information visit www.literaryawards.qld.gov.au or phone 07-3405 5215.

Inaugural Bryan Kelleher Literary Award - Celebrating Australian Bush Poetry
Australian Unity in association with the Australian Natives' Association and the Henry Lawson Memorial and Literary Society invites submissions of original bush poetry to be considered for the inaugural Australian Unity Bryan Kelleher Literary Award. First prize $1000; entries close 30 June 2008; details www.australianunity.com.au/literaryaward

JOIN PEN AND/OR MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
Sydney PEN (founded in 1931), an affiliate of International PEN, is an association of writers devoted to freedom of expression in Australia and in the world at large. In accordance with the PEN Charter it uses its influence on behalf of writers anywhere who are silenced by persecution, exile or imprisonment and acts as an authoritative source on matters of free expression. Through a range of community activities it promotes the written word in all its forms as a way to understanding and the free transmission of ideas.
   David Malouf, a member of Sydney PEN’s writer’s advisory panel, explains why he supports PEN: “As a writer who has the freedom to write without fear or constraint, and for whom silence is a choice, I would feel ashamed if I did not speak up for a writer anywhere on whom silence is enforced with all the terrible machinery of the state.”
   PEN is more than a good idea; it deserves your action and ongoing support. You can actually make a difference by supporting the writers equipped to speak out through words and in print. Take action today and become a PEN supporter.