Celebrating the creative act of reading and writing in a bold and thought-provoking way, WritersBLOCK / ReadersBLOCK is the latest activation in the City of Hobart's innovative InsideOUT public art program.
From now to 28 June, Salamanca Square will host two transparent cube galleries, with each housing a local writer and reader in residence. These living installations invite the public to observe the creative process in real time—one cube featuring a writer crafting new work, the other a reader immersed in Tasmanian literature.
Created by writer and academic Lucy Christopher, WritersBLOCK / ReadersBLOCK turns everyday activities into something special. By placing writers and readers on pedestals, the project encourages people to think about the challenges—big and small—that can make reading and writing difficult.
The project is the sixth in the City's InsideOUT initiative—a mobile gallery platform designed to bring art into the public realm while maintaining a professional, weatherproof exhibition space. The cubes offer artists a unique opportunity to engage with audiences in unexpected ways.
WritersBLOCK / ReadersBLOCK is supported by UNESCO Hobart City of Literature, the University of Tasmania, Fullers Bookshop, and Hobart Bookshop.
Hobart was officially named a UNESCO City of Literature on 31 October 2023. The City of Hobart manages this designation and at last month's Council meeting, endorsed establishing a secretariat and Steering Committee—made up of the City, Libraries Tasmania, the University of Tasmania, and Brand Tasmania—to guide and fund the program, committing $10,000 annually and up to $25,000 in in-kind support.
The cubes will be activated daily from 12 pm to 2 pm, and additional performances on Friday 6 and 13 June from 4pm to 6pm during Dark Mofo, offering a rare glimpse into the intimate worlds of reading and writing.
