A world of ideas, art and literature will be unleashed on the Illawarra this month.
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The Wollongong Writers Festival will take place from November 23-25.
Venues such as Wollongong Art Gallery, Town Hall and Library will host workshops, panels, spoken word, jazz music and open-mic events.
Participants include Catherine McKinnon, Greenpeace CEO David Ritter, Kirli Saunders, Roanna Gonsalves, Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Evelyn Araluen, Michelle Cahill, Kate Cole-Adams and more.
McKinnon's book Storyland - set over four centuries in the Illawarra - was shortlisted for the 2018 Miles Franklin.
Ritter is the CEO of Greenpeace, and will be speaking about his book The Coal Truth.
Saunders is an indigenous poet who founded the ‘Poetry in First Languages’ project.
Her first children’s picture book, The Incredible Freedom Machines, was selected for Bologna Book Fair, and has been published internationally in French and English.
Gonsalves’ book The Permanent Resident won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award Multicultural Prize for 2018.
“The fun begins on Friday night with our free launch,” festival director Hayley Scrivenor said.
“There will be lots of laughs courtesy of our host Madeleine Stewart, and an incredible drag act with a difference from Tall Jan.”
Ms Scrivenor said there will be plenty to enjoy on the Saturday and Sunday, including a book stall and live podcast with some of the region’s best chefs.
“We also have an in-house bibliotherapist prescribing books and poets writing poems to order – just order a haiku if you feel like something small,” she said.
“There will be a panel discussing what it’s like growing up Aboriginal in Australia today, and don’t get us started on the amazing workshops available.”
In 2018, the festival has a theme of ‘What Feeds You?’
Ms Scrivenor said this year’s theme is close to her heart.
“We are asking a really important question with our theme this year – how do we get what we need to keep going?” she said.
“In the gig economy, how do we pay rent, but also, how does art fuel a meaningful life? We’ve all had that experience, I think, of coming away from an event or a conversation feeling full, feeling like you’ve gotten what you need to carry on for another day. I hope that’s what people can take away from this year’s festival.”
Most events are $15 admission, although some are free. Weekend passes are also available.
Passes and the festival program are available at the www.wollongongwritersfestival.com website.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
