Parramatta Literary Salon Felicity Castagna in conversation
Join Felicity Castagna in conversation with Sheila Ngọc Phạm for the March session of the Parramatta Literary Salon
Arts & Cultural Exchange presents Parramatta Literary Salon, a new literary event showcasing writers' body of work.
In March, we will feature award winning writer Felicity Castagna in conversation with Sheila Ngọc Phạm.
The in-depth conversation will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.
Charnel Rizk, an artist, storyteller and singer-songwriter will read some of her latest writing before the conversation.
About Felicity Castagna
Felicity Castagna’s next book, Peaches, will be released in 2027. She has previously published four novels for adults and young adults including her most recent book, Girls In Boys’ Cars which received The Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and is on its way to becoming a film. Her previous novel, No More Boats was a finalist in the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Awards and is published internationally by Europa. Her novel, The Incredible Here and Now received a Prime Minister’s Literary Award. She has worked with artists in many different fields to write big, wild, wonderful things for organisations such as The Sydney Opera House, The Sydney Festival, Powerhouse and The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. Her essays on books, art, suburbia, home and place are published both here and internationally on platforms such as The Sydney Review of Books, Electric Literature, LitHub, and ABC radio and television. When she’s not writing she spends most of her time talking about books and helping other people to write them. She’s taught everywhere from schools to festivals, art galleries and correctional centres and she has helped to establish, promote and run many writing and storytelling programs, particularly in Western Sydney. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing with The Writing and Society Research Centre at Western Sydney University.
About Sheila Ngọc Phạm
Sheila Ngọc Phạm is an independent writer, producer and researcher. She writes for a wide range of Australian and international publications, and has been recognised for her writing with listings in the 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, 2021 Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism and 2021 Woollahra Digital Literary Award. She has produced radio and podcasts for Monocle, ABC Radio National and SBS; worked on screen-based projects and series; and curated exhibitions for the State Library of NSW and Fairfield City Museum and Gallery. Sheila was the inaugural Imago Fellow at the State Library of NSW, examining Australian speculative fiction in the late 20th century, and is currently a researcher of refugee health at the University of Technology Sydney. Sheila lives with her family on Dharug land in south-west Sydney, where she is the coordinator of Bankstown Community Garden.
About Charnel Rizk
Charnel Rizk is a Lebanese-Australian multidisciplinary artist, co-owner of Parramatta Actors Centre, and founder of the production platform ALLTHERIZK. Her practice spans across music, acting, writing, and theatre. Her writing has been featured on SBS and has received international recognition. Passionate about storytelling and creative collaboration, Charnel uses her multidisciplinary practice to engage audiences, explore identity and place, and connect communities through authentic and impactful artistic expression. She also works in the community as a speech therapist, helping others develop expression and communication skills.
This event is curated by acclaimed writer Yumna Kassab in collaboration with Arts & Cultural Exchange.
Our local bookstore Dymocks Parramatta will have books for sale available on the night at Arts & Cultural Exchange.
Event Details
When: Wednesday 11th March 2026 | 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Where: Arts & Cultural Exchange, Parramatta
Tickets: $10.
Free for First Nations or people experiencing financial hardship. Please feel free to email: yamane.fayed@aceinc.org.au
Lights refreshments will be provided.
This project has been supported through a City of Parramatta Council Community Grant.
Join Felicity Castagna in conversation with Sheila Ngọc Phạm for the March session of the Parramatta Literary Salon
Arts & Cultural Exchange presents Parramatta Literary Salon, a new literary event showcasing writers' body of work.
In March, we will feature award winning writer Felicity Castagna in conversation with Sheila Ngọc Phạm.
The in-depth conversation will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.
Charnel Rizk, an artist, storyteller and singer-songwriter will read some of her latest writing before the conversation.
About Felicity Castagna
Felicity Castagna’s next book, Peaches, will be released in 2027. She has previously published four novels for adults and young adults including her most recent book, Girls In Boys’ Cars which received The Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and is on its way to becoming a film. Her previous novel, No More Boats was a finalist in the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Awards and is published internationally by Europa. Her novel, The Incredible Here and Now received a Prime Minister’s Literary Award. She has worked with artists in many different fields to write big, wild, wonderful things for organisations such as The Sydney Opera House, The Sydney Festival, Powerhouse and The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. Her essays on books, art, suburbia, home and place are published both here and internationally on platforms such as The Sydney Review of Books, Electric Literature, LitHub, and ABC radio and television. When she’s not writing she spends most of her time talking about books and helping other people to write them. She’s taught everywhere from schools to festivals, art galleries and correctional centres and she has helped to establish, promote and run many writing and storytelling programs, particularly in Western Sydney. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing with The Writing and Society Research Centre at Western Sydney University.
About Sheila Ngọc Phạm
Sheila Ngọc Phạm is an independent writer, producer and researcher. She writes for a wide range of Australian and international publications, and has been recognised for her writing with listings in the 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, 2021 Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism and 2021 Woollahra Digital Literary Award. She has produced radio and podcasts for Monocle, ABC Radio National and SBS; worked on screen-based projects and series; and curated exhibitions for the State Library of NSW and Fairfield City Museum and Gallery. Sheila was the inaugural Imago Fellow at the State Library of NSW, examining Australian speculative fiction in the late 20th century, and is currently a researcher of refugee health at the University of Technology Sydney. Sheila lives with her family on Dharug land in south-west Sydney, where she is the coordinator of Bankstown Community Garden.
About Charnel Rizk
Charnel Rizk is a Lebanese-Australian multidisciplinary artist, co-owner of Parramatta Actors Centre, and founder of the production platform ALLTHERIZK. Her practice spans across music, acting, writing, and theatre. Her writing has been featured on SBS and has received international recognition. Passionate about storytelling and creative collaboration, Charnel uses her multidisciplinary practice to engage audiences, explore identity and place, and connect communities through authentic and impactful artistic expression. She also works in the community as a speech therapist, helping others develop expression and communication skills.
This event is curated by acclaimed writer Yumna Kassab in collaboration with Arts & Cultural Exchange.
Our local bookstore Dymocks Parramatta will have books for sale available on the night at Arts & Cultural Exchange.
Event Details
When: Wednesday 11th March 2026 | 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Where: Arts & Cultural Exchange, Parramatta
Tickets: $10.
Free for First Nations or people experiencing financial hardship. Please feel free to email: yamane.fayed@aceinc.org.au
Lights refreshments will be provided.
This project has been supported through a City of Parramatta Council Community Grant.
Good to know
Highlights
- 2 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
Location
Arts & Cultural Exchange (ACE)
8 Victoria Rd
Parramatta, NSW 2150
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