Fremantle Press turns 40

• Established in 1976, Fremantle Press has published many well-known WA authors
• Winner of the 2016 City of Fremantle's T.A.G. Hungerford Award is Jay Martin

Independent Western Australian publisher Fremantle Press celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

During an anniversary event at the Fremantle Arts Centre, Western Australian author Jay Martin was announced as the winner of the 2016 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award.

Culture and Arts Minister John Day congratulated Jay on her win and said she joined an impressive list of authors who began their careers through the award.

"Authors Gail Jones, Brenda Walker and Kim Scott were all identified through the Hungerford Award and collectively have gone on to win or be shortlisted for national and international awards such as the Miles Franklin Literary Award, the Orange Prize and the Man Booker," Mr Day said.

"Fremantle Press was established in 1976 and over the years has introduced to us authors such as the works of Joan London, Elizabeth Jolley, Albert Facey for A Fortunate Life and Sally Morgan for My Place.

"Fremantle Press focuses on identifying talented and emerging Western Australian writers and artists.

"Craig Silvey's first book, Rhubarb, was published by Fremantle Press, after which he went on to write the acclaimed Jasper Jones, which was recently made into a film with the support of Screenwest."

The Minister said the Liberal National Government was a strong supporter of Western Australian writers and a long-time supporter of Fremantle Press.

"Fremantle Press was recently successful in securing a new three-year funding contract for more than $340,000 per annum through the Department of Culture and Arts' (DCA) new Organisational Investment Program," he said.

"In total, over the past financial year, the State Government has provided more than $1 million to the writing sector, including grants to individual authors, project funding and funding to writing organisations.

"The Government is also in the process of undertaking an independent review of the writing sector in WA to identify current challenges, strengths and opportunities, and examine strategies and future directions for the sector."

Fremantle Press publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's literature.

Fact File

• Thomas Arthur Guy (T.A.G.) Hungerford was born in 1915 and grew up in South Perth. He served in World War II and later moved to Canberra working at the Australian War Memorial, becoming a well-known and awarded writer
• For more information about Fremantle Press, visit https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/
• For more information about the DCA grants programs, visit http://www.dca.wa.gov.au/funding/grants-programs/

Minister's office - 6552 6200