The Australia Council for the Arts welcomes Professor Dennis Haskell as the new Chair of the Literature Board.

Professor Haskell is a literature specialist with wide-ranging experience as a published poet, editor, critic and academic, giving him a special appreciation of Australia’s literary sector.

Professor of English and Cultural Studies and past Chair of the Academic Board at the University of Western Australia, Professor Haskell was also a poetry critic for the ABC Radio National’s Books and Writing program for three years. He is co-editor of the literary journal, Westerly, and was awarded the Western Australian Premier’s Award for Poetry in 2006 for his collection All the Time in the World.

His term as the new Chair for the Literature Board, announced this week by the Minister for the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett MP, is for three years.

“We are delighted to have someone of Dennis’ breadth of experience and talent to chair our Literature Board,” said Kathy Keele, Chief Executive Officer of the Australia Council. “Dennis brings with him a great understanding of the issues which the literature world faces today, along with a terrific vision for the way forward for our writers, editors and publications.”

“He is an enthusiastic advocate of teaching literature in our schools and tertiary colleges and of the new opportunities for our writers and publishers from digital publishing.”

“I take this opportunity to also thank Dr. Imre Salusinszky for his dedication and substantial contribution as Chair of the Literature Board over the past three years.”

The Australia Council for the Arts is the Australian Government’s principal arts funding body. The Literature Board supports the Australian literature sector through direct funding for outstanding literary creators, and funding for infrastructure support to the sector, professional development of writers and improving the access of all Australians to the work of our writers.