Voiceworks (journal)

"Voiceworks" is an Australian magazine that publishes fiction, poetry, essays and journalism by young writers, and comics, drawings and photos by young artists, originally established as the monthly newsletter of Express Media Power Workshops (which has since been renamed Express Media and remains the magazine's publisher). From around issue 12 onwards (there is no complete archive), "Voiceworks" began to be published as a quarterly, 80-page magazine. It is now in its 72nd issue.

Express Media

Its publisher, Express Media, a non-profit organisation that offers literary arts and media opportunities for young and emerging artists, was established in 1983 as Express Media Power Workshops. "Voiceworks", (the newsletter) was launched by the then prime minister, Bob Hawke and Molly Meldrum in 1985 (International Year Of Youth) to promote the organisation's program of workshops. Since then, Express Media's operations and projects have been financed by a range of sources:

* grants from federal and state government arts funding bodies (Australia Council for the Arts, [http://www.arts.vic.gov.au/index.htm Arts Victoria] )
* individuals (John Marsden)
* private philanthropic funds (Copyright Agency Ltd)

Operations are carried out by three part-time staff (General Manager, Artistic Director and "Voiceworks" Editor) and hundreds of volunteers.

John Marsden - Patron

John Marsden is Express Media's Patron, and contributor of operational funding as well as prize money for the [http://www.expressmedia.org.au/content.php?content_id=428 John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers]

Editorial Committee (EdComm)

A volunteer EdComm, recruited from the community of young people reached by the magazine, helps the Editor in all stages of production - from selecting content from unsolicited submissions, determining issue themes, liaising with authors, proofreading in-house proofs and preparing launch events.

Circulation and Readership

Though based at the Melbourne offices of Express Media, "Voiceworks" has gradually acquired a nationwide audience, and it receives submissions from young writers and artists from around Australia. Remote members of EdComm and regular interstate columnists help keep the journal in touch with the broader community.

Themed Issues

Each issue of "Voiceworks" is subtitled according to a theme determined by the EdComm a number of issues advance. A theme blurb is written by the EdComm and distributed with calls for submissions, though potential contributors are urged to keep the Voiceworks motto in mind:

themed work: good;good work: better;good, themed work: BEST

Recent issue titles include:

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=13 #61: Playground]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=14 #62: Future Shock]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=18 #63: Punchline]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=19 #64: Outskirts]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=20 #65: Genre]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=23 #66: SuperFunHappy]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=25 #67: Zero]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=26 #68: Ratrace]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=27 #69: Identikit]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=28 #70: Third Party]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=29 #71: Issues]

[http://www.expressmedia.org.au/vw_back_issues.php?issue_id=30 #72: Harvest]

External links

* [http://www.expressmedia.com.au Express Media]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/04/1070351706564.html?from=storyrhs A voice for erudite youth] - The Age
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2007/1894169.htm Voiceworks Magazine for Young Writers] - Radio National
* [http://www.arts.vic.gov.au/index.htm Arts Victoria]
* [http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/ Australia Council for the Arts]
* [http://www.cordite.org.au/?p=991 David Prater interviews Ryan Paine - Cordite Poetry Review]