Inside the Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas

This weekend I went to the first workshop at Melbourne's brand spanking new Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas. It's the jewel in the crown of UNESCO's City of Literature and, based on the construction work going on out the front, there's a bit more polishing before it's fully open to the public.

Even still it's up and running in a pilot mode with most of the resident organisations already moved in and some even starting their events. Six resident organisations - Australian Poetry Centre, Emerging Writers' Festival, Express Media, Melbourne Writer's Festival, Victorian Writer's Centre and SPUNC (now the Small Press Network) - all seem to be in various stages of unpacking. The centre itself starts programming events early next year.

It's an impressive building from the inside and out - keeping the State Library's classic look while making it contemporary enough to be a work place. There's still a few bugs to iron out with the entrance which was still draped in construction scaffolding so signage was impossible. While waiting to be let back in after a break, I overheard a passing couple speculating on what the building was. He wasn't sure if it was part of the nearby QV shopping centre, but she was better read and set him right:
"No, it's that cafe - Mr Hulk or whatever."

[Postscript: this was a little piece written before the Wheeler Centre opened and before I worked there.]