inSITU: Darebin's Creative Writing Program
We’re excited to announce inSITU 2025 – our annual creative writing program, full of exciting offerings for writers in Darebin to connect, build community and grow their literary practice
Whether you’re tinkering away in your iPhone notes app or have a published novel under your belt, our new program includes opportunities for people at all stages of their writing journey.
This year we will be running our highly anticipated Workshop Series and our open access print publication, dSCRIBE with a fresh new theme. We hope that you’ll make the most of the free workshops to work on making your submissions for dSCRIBE the best they can be.
dSCRIBE submissions are now open and close on Sunday 18 May 2025.
Explore the inSITU program here:
Make sure you follow us on Instagram @darebin_arts and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date!
About our community consultation
In 2023 we conducted some research and consulted with our community, speaking to local writers from all walks of life. We ran a focus group with writers in Darebin and industry professionals, asking them how Council could best support the literary community and sector. We got some incredible feedback that has informed the shape of the new program.
This illustration by Maddison Kitching was created during that conversation:
Darebin Mayor's Writing Awards
Congratulations to our 2024 Award winners:
- Liza Dezfouli - Baby Bird (Winner)
- Terry Donnelly - The Fire Within (Runner Up)
- Haneen Mahmood Martin - Map of Kuala Lumpur, 2000 (Runner Up)
Read about our 2023 Award winners(PDF, 185KB)
Read about our 2022 Award winners(PDF, 243KB)
Read about our 2021 Award winners(PDF, 141KB)
Read about our 2020 Award winners(PDF, 102KB)
'Contemplating my transition, and you, in the bathroom at a party' by Alice Lumsden
Darebin Mayor's Writing Award Winner (Youth aged 15-17 category)
'Kingfishers at Merri Creek' by Meadow Rodriguez
Darebin Mayor's Writing Award Winner (Youth 12-14 category)
Watch on YouTube
'Sometimes Mountain, Sometimes Sea' by Madison Pawle
Darebin Mayors Writing Award 2023 Winner (Adult category)
Watch on YouTube
'The Landlord' by William Stanforth
Darebin Mayor's Writing Award 2023 Highly Commended (Adult category)
Watch on YouTube
'We Sing Anyway' by Nick Ling
Darebin Mayor's Writing Award 2023 Highly Commended (Adult category)
Watch on YouTube