Cunningham appointed Literature Board chair

Author and former Meanjin editor Sophie Cunningham has been appointed to the position of chair of the Australia Council Literature Board.

Cunningham, who started in the role on 16 May, told Bookseller+Publisher it was ‘a challenging, but interesting time to take on the job’.

‘I thought the recent Review into the workings of the Australia Council had much to commend it,’ she said. ‘As the Review says, advocacy is important. So, if art specific boards do end up being abandoned I’m keen to see—structurally—in what other ways one can advocate for their art form. That is, how will Literature’s voice be heard?’ 

Cunningham said she was looking forward ‘to being a part of that conversation at the Australia Council’, but noted that Arts Minister Simon Crean ‘is yet to sign off on the review and there are a lot of conversations that will keep on being had’.

Crean said Cunningham’s ‘extensive sector knowledge, and experience in both writing and publishing will provide industry insight to the Literature Board’. 

Cunningham replaces Dennis Haskell, who stepped down from the role at the end of 2011.

Category: Local news