We’re thrilled to share some news about an SRB project that has been in the works for most of 2021.
We’re calling it The Circular, and it is an aggregator that will keep the best new Australian non-fiction in circulation; essays, interviews, reviews, features and more.
At the SRB we know from experience that great essays can go viral – and also that great essays can sink into the algorithms without a trace. When we talk to readers, we hear their concerns about missing out on what’s being published by Australian literary journals and magazines. And sometimes, when we tune into public discussions about Australian literature, we hear a set of tired generalisations about our literary culture that don’t line up with the range and quality of work that we’re reading. The Circular is a response to these observations and conversations, and will present a rich, complex and diverse account of contemporary Australian literature.
From August, we’ll send a weekly free newsletter to subscribers. We expect to start sending these newsletters sometime in August. We’ve already started work on the tech and design side of things and we’ll let you know how to join the newsletter list shortly.
Right now, we’re looking to recruit a star editor to help us run it for twelve months. This is a 2-day a week appointment at our home, the Writing and Society Research Centre in Parramatta. We’re looking for someone with big ideas about Australian literary culture, with digital skills and experience, and a demonstrated commitment to collaborative practice.
The Circular editor will be responsible for curating and collating a weekly newsletter of the most interesting, useful and surprising recent non-fiction published by and about Australian writers. They will be charged with building strategic relationships around the project, recruiting guest editors, and finding innovative ways to showcase the range and diversity of contemporary literary practice in Australia. We want to recruit someone with a bold vision for the future of Australian literature and practical ideas about how to connect readers and writers across our sector. If that’s you, get in touch!
There’s more information about the position, selection criteria, and how to apply here. Applications close on 25 July.
We’re grateful to the Australia Council, who has funded The Circular as one of their Re:Imagine Sector Recovery Initiatives.
