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The WA Premier’s Book Awards will be shifted to a biannual format with no award in 2015 but a 2016 award for works published in 2014 and 2015.
The literary community has reacted unhappily to the news that the awards, run by the State Library of WA, will be downgraded.
The former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman famously cut the Queensland Premier’s literary awards on his first day in office in 2012, prompting a successful crowdfunding campaign that saved the awards, now called the Queensland Literary Awards. Will WA follow suit?
writingWA CEO Sharon Flindell told ArtsHub the decision was ‘disappointing and unexpected’ as there was no prior knowledge or consultation before the announcement last Thursday.
‘Concerns are that the opportunities offered through the avenue of awards and recognition are reduced, as well as the incoming opportunities to leverage from the awards,’ said Flindell.