Aegeus Executive Search
Artistic Director
Exceptional opportunity for an experienced and visionary Artistic Director to help shape the future Australia’s leading literary festival
Australia’s leading literary festival and one of the largest and most influential globally
Sydney Writers’ Festival sits at the intersection of culture, ideas and public discourse
Exceptional opportunity for an experienced and visionary Artistic Director to help shape our future
Sydney Writers’ Festival brings together a broad and engaged community around the sharing of books, writing and ideas.
Since our first Festival in 1997, many of the world’s most influential writers, thinkers and storytellers have come together on our stages to explore the ideas, stories and issues shaping contemporary life. By showcasing a diverse range of Australian and international voices, the Festival helps nurture Australia’s literary culture while connecting audiences with the conversations that matter most.
Recognised internationally as a leading platform for writers, thinkers and public intellectuals, Sydney Writers’ Festival attracts some of the most influential voices from Australia and around the world. Today, it stands as Australia’s largest and most influential literary festival and one of the most respected literary events globally.
Over the past five years, Sydney Writers’ Festival has focused on innovation, sustainability and organisational transformation — evolving from a single annual event into a year-round platform for ideas, storytelling and public engagement. In doing so, we have broadened our programming lens, deepened engagement with diverse communities and audiences, and expanded the Festival’s reach well beyond a single week in May.
Through our partnership with the State Library of New South Wales, national reach via Live & Local, and a growing program of year-round events, the organisation has significantly expanded its impact and audience reach. Today, Sydney Writers’ Festival delivers more than 300 ticketed and free events annually to audiences exceeding 100,000 people across Australia.
The 2026 Festival further demonstrated the organisation’s strength and momentum, delivering record attendance and ticket sales for the second consecutive year and reinforcing Sydney Writers’ Festival’s position as Australia’s leading literary festival.
The Festival is entering a period of sustained growth, increasing national relevance and expanding international profile — creating a rare opportunity for the next Artistic Director to help shape its future. The next phase of the organisation’s evolution will focus on deepening audiences, strengthening strategic partnerships, and continuing to position Sydney Writers’ Festival as one of the world’s leading literary festivals.
Responsible for the artistic vision of the Festival and its year-round programming, the position brings together editorial leadership, audience insight and commercial acumen. Working closely with the CEO and executive leadership team, the Artistic Director will shape a program that is ambitious, relevant and resonant — locally, nationally and internationally.
The position requires exceptional editorial judgement, intellectual curiosity and cultural leadership, together with a deep understanding of audiences, storytelling and contemporary public discourse. The Artistic Director has to be a skilled relationship-builder, capable of working with writers, publishers, partners, funders and stakeholders across a complex cultural ecosystem.
This is a role for a leader with a proven ability to operate at scale — someone deeply committed to the craft of programming and curatorial leadership, with the focus and discipline to shape a coherent artistic vision across a complex and high-profile platform.
We are looking for an exceptional leader who is capable of balancing artistic ambition with commercial realities while leading with intelligence, curiosity and integrity in a highly visible public environment. They will possess the judgement, confidence and leadership capability required to navigate a rapidly evolving cultural landscape and contribute meaningfully to the next phase of the Festival’s growth.
This is a rare opportunity to bring artistic vision to a major Australian cultural institution with local, national and international significance, and to help shape public conversation through one of the country’s most visible and trusted cultural platforms.
Please contact the consultant assisting Sydney Writers’ Festival to obtain the link to the Information for Candidates microsite, which contains full details about the organisation, the role and the application requirements:
Tony Grierson
AEGEUS Executive Search
T: +61 (2) 9053 8866
Closing Date: 5.00pm AEST, Friday 3 July 2026
