Endorsements
What Others Have Said About UsAPWT was such a wonderful and nourishing experience for me as a writer. I relished getting to connect with writers from incredibly diverse backgrounds; I connected with writers from India, China, Australia and Malaysia. All of these writers stemmed from various practices too—I am a playwright myself but I got to have robust conversations with poets, novelists, biographers, translators and many more. The opportunity to network, converse and exchange ideas with such a wide pool of talented individuals has definitely deepened my own practice as an artist and led me to dream and think in ways that I never thought possible. Thank you APWT for hosting such an incredible event.
Merlynn Tong
Playwright
The APWP (now AP Writers & Translators) has been one of the great organisations in not only promoting writing from Asia and the Pacific, but in bringing together a network of possibilities hitherto untapped. It is already the single most valuable creative and cultural resource for anyone interested in writing in the region. I wholeheartedly support its future directions and urge other institutions to do likewise. The APWP's support for translation - an example of just one of its activities and one of my abiding interests - has been worthy of note.
The format of the APWT event, which bridges the gap between a conference and a festival, is a brilliant construct. There is a unique connection established between attendees and speakers that leads to far more productive outcomes. I have to say that the three days spent with APWT were the most intellectually enjoyable I had spent in years. For me, the greatest value of the event was the way in which it promoted intellectual connections between neighbouring nations. More than ever in this tangled world of trade, exploitation, cultural difference and misunderstanding, we will rely on the writers to demonstrate our common humanity. I believe APWT is a much needed leaven promoting international understanding. It may seem like a small pebble thrown into the big pond of international relations, but its ripples will travel a very long way.
Sue Gough
Ex-deputy chair of Australia Council Literary Fund and Writer
The APWP has been a visionary, innovative, voluntary initiative that has pulled together writers and creative writing teachers in the region and internationally, and its continued growth is testament to its vitality and importance. Collective, international institutional support is necessary if it is to be sustained, which will allow the APWP to draw upon an even wider network of educators and writers with a common goal of promoting literatures of the Asia Pacific in its myriad forms. If we truly wish to promote and advance a world literature, as opposed to literature dominated by Anglo-American commercial publishing interests, arguably the one that is the most powerful and well-funded today, then educational institutions need to take the lead in advancing other writers and literatures. The APWP provides such a forum for the region, and already has a proven track record that deserves stronger support.
I wish to offer my enthusiastic support for the Asia Pacific Writing Partnership (APWP), which is an effective and vital service organization and advocate for Australian and Asian writers. The network of connections that the APWP is building, linking writers, book festivals, writing programs, and literary centers, will surely change the trajectory of literature in the region—and the world. For the sparks created by the interaction of writers who discover commonality despite the vast distances separating them can be incredibly productive. And I have no doubt that what Jane Camens has singlehandedly put together will benefit writers for a long time to come. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending that (the APWP) AP Writers receive your full support.
The Asia Pacific Writers and Translators community has been in existence for 10 years now, and this was my third APWT conference. What I especially love about APWT is that there is a genuine effort to be a Pan-AsiaPacific group that welcomes both writers and translators. The choice of conference venue is frequently dictated by how easy it would be for Asian writers, especially from under-represented countries, to travel to the venue keeping costs and visa requirements in mind. A good number of APWT writers have become my good friends; this is a very collegial, cosy group, with none of the literary casteism that festivals with more star power inevitably attract. We hang out over meals and tea-breaks and dinner and the networking seems unforced with kind and kindred spirits.
Dipika Mukherjee
Indian author and sociolinguist, Longlisted Man Asia Literary Prize
I am writing on behalf of the British Centre for Literary Translation (BCLT), based at the University of East Anglia, UK, to express our support for the Asia-Pacific Writing Partnership. BCLT's mission is to support and promote translation of literature from around the world into English; we are particularly interested in languages and literatures that are currently under-represented in English. As part of this mission we work closely with a range of international partners, including literature and translation organisations in other Anglophone countries. We are keen to work with the Asia-Pacific Writing Partnership to explore how we can encourage more translation from the languages of the Asia-Pacific region into English, as currently so little of the rich literature from this region makes its way into the hands of UK (and other Anglophone) readers. With its extensive experience and network of contacts, we believe that the APWP will be an excellent partner for us in this work. We look forward to what promises to be a very fruitful collaboration.
APWP is an idea whose time has come. The Partnership has already made a remarkable impact in a few years thanks to Jane Camens vision and stewardship. By broadening its Australian base it has the potential to ensure that Australia has a voice in some of the most important global literary conversations and exchanges.