Inaugural regional festivals conference

Newcastle Writers Festival had the privilege of hosting the inaugural Regional Australia Writers Festival Conference on 18 and 19 November with support from Creative Australia and the University of Newcastle. Twenty-three participants travelled from across the country – from Margaret River to Bendigo and Cairns – with the aim of sharing their experiences and deepening their knowledge about sustainability. 

As an arts executive observed, regional festivals are operating ‘not on a shoe-string budget, but on dental floss’. The group, many of whom are volunteers, explored the many pressure points literary festivals are dealing with and also the successes. Paricipants shared a strong commitment to community engagement. Hopefully, this is the just the beginning of a strong alliance. Thank you to the presenters and participants who shared their knowledge and experience.