WHAT'S ON

FROM LONDON TO THE GOLD COAST – World Famous Literary Treasures To Call HOTA Home

WORDS: Danielle Ford PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

HOTA, Home of the Arts, will play host to the global debut of ‘Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London’, an exhibition showcasing the remarkable collaboration between two distinguished British institutions.

Experience Gold Coast is thrilled to announce the landmark exhibition will open on 12 April 2025 and offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the most well-known figures in English literature. Over 100 rare, remarkable manuscripts and first editions, and 70 iconic portraits will be displayed together for the first time.

From the 16th century to the present day, this exhibition will explore the enduring legacy of writers across the ages. It will feature some of the most influential literary figures in history, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, William Blake, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J.R.R. Tolkien and contemporary luminaries Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and Zadie Smith.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the National Portrait Gallery on ‘Writers Revealed’, a truly unique exhibition that brings together some of the most exceptional objects from our collections. Visitors will experience rare first editions and exquisite manuscripts alongside celebrated portraits of the writers who created them. The exhibition features over 70 authors from a diverse range of backgrounds, spanning 500 years of English literature.” Alexandra Ault, Lead Curator of Modern Archives and Manuscripts at the British Library, said.“Featuring treasures that rarely leave our Gallery in London, this major new exhibition will bring HOTA’s visitors closer to some of the most important figures in English literary history, from William Shakespeare to Zadie Smith. Encountering these displays, visitors will discover what is revealed and what is hidden when life, writing and portraiture intersect.” Catharine MacLeod, Senior Curator of 17th Century Collections at the National Portrait Gallery, said.

Visitors will be captivated by an intimate glimpse into the personal lives and creative processes of these iconic writers. The exhibition features original and priceless manuscripts that reveal the thought processes behind beloved stories, along with stunning portraits that connect us to the individuals behind the words.

Notable highlights include handwritten and illustrated letters from J.R.R.Tolkien to his grandson that echo his work in The Lord of the Rings, a diary entry by Lewis Carrol discussing Alice in Wonderland, Virginia Woolf’s handwritten manuscript for Mrs Dalloway, Jane Austen’s writing desk, and the only portrait likely to have been painted of William Shakespeare during his lifetime.

In a groundbreaking collaboration between two prominent British national collections, the exhibition Writers Revealed has been brought to life on Australian soil. Co-curators Alexandra Ault, Lead Curator of Modern Archives and Manuscripts at the British Library, and Catharine MacLeod, Senior Curator of 17th Century Collections, National Portrait Gallery, have worked together to create this unique exhibition and have assembled distinct objects from each collection that tell rich stories about the writers represented.

“What an incredible privilege to host this rare exhibition – from London to HOTA,’’ said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

“These literary wordsmiths have sparked our collective imaginations for centuries. We now have an incredible opportunity to learn more of their literary craft, their manuscripts and personal lives.

Securing exhibitions of this calibre underscores the emergence of HOTA as a real arts and cultural heartland for not only the city but the entire region.” he said.

The dynamic 1000sqm exhibition space in Gallery 1 will be transformed for 16 weeks as visitors are immersed in the fascinating world of wordsmiths who have inspired imaginations since the reign of Henry VIII.

As a AAA-rated space, the HOTA Gallery is uniquely positioned to host an international exhibition of this scale. The building’s remarkable features, facilities and conservation team provide audiences with the opportunity to experience this stunning exhibition in the heart of the Gold Coast.

“This exhibition is a celebration of the written word and the creative minds who have shaped our world through literature. We are proud to bring such a culturally significant event to HOTA, further cementing our position as a destination for world-class arts and culture,” said Yarmila Alfonzetti Heads of Arts and Culture, Experience Gold Coast.

The British Library is the national library of the UK, with shelves holding over 170 million items, and sites in Yorkshire and London, while the world-renowned National Portrait Gallery, which sits between London’s famous Trafalgar Squares, is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world.

Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London

12 April – 3 August 2025

Gallery 1, HOTA Gallery, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

Tickets from $19.00

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit:

https://hota.com.au/whats-on/live/exhibitions/writers-revealed