Who We Are

MARION supports, connects and advocates for writers at all stages of their practice, locally and nationally. Based in Kamberri (Canberra), MARION is a not-for-profit, member-based organisation and registered charity working across the ACT and surrounding regions to foster a vibrant and engaged writing community.

Since 1995, we have played a central role in shaping literary culture in the region. Today, MARION operates as a distributed organisation, delivering programs, events and opportunities across multiple locations rather than from a single site.

We work with emerging, mid-career and established writers across all forms, offering professional development, creative opportunities and pathways toward publication and public engagement. Through workshops, fellowships, prizes and public programs, we create space for experimentation, critical thinking and a meaningful exchange, supporting writing as a both an individual practice and a shared cultural activity.

MARION is a part of the National Writers Centre Network, contributing to a broader ecosystem of organisations supporting writers and writing across Australia. At the heart of our work is a commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive and engaged writing community.

Our History

MARION was established in 1995 at Griffith Library as the ACT Writers Centre, before relocating to Gorman House Arts Centre in Braddon in 1998. For more than two decades, Gorman House was home to the organisation and a gathering place for writers in the ACT. In 2021, the organisation transitioned away from a single physical location and into a distributed model. While no longer based in one place, MARION continues to bring writers together through programs and events held across Kamberri and the surrounding region. Over time, MARION has recognised a number of Lifetime Members whose contributions have shaped the organisation and its community, including Craig Cormick, Nigel Featherstone, Katarina Pearson, Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello, and Sue Terry.