RAA Newsletter - Issue 4, May 2008,

WordStorm – flying through the sky of the Top End

With its unique location at the doorstep of Asia, Darwin’s upcoming WordStorm literary festival will feature the writing of its near neighbours. It is billed as northern Australia’s largest literary festival and this year will include sessions in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. At least 70 writers have signed to attend the festival. Director, Sandra Thibodeaux, says WordStorm has a cross-cultural focus with writers participating from four main cultural groups – Indigenous Australia, non-Indigenous Australia, Indonesia and East Timor. This year, four writers from Singapore and the Maori poet and songwriter Hinemoana Baker, are also coming.

“What we try to do is bring the cultural groups together for the kind of dialogue and debate that writers do well,” says director Sandra Thibodeaux.

“While we cover the standard writers’ festival topics such as ‘Writing your Memoir’ and ‘Getting Published’, the more interesting conversations are those that tackle the nitty-gritty subjects of life. This year, there will be A considered Response (to the Federal Intervention), After Suharto, The practice of Subversion, Sorry and Not Suitable for Children, which explores the issue of censorship.”

“In my opinion, it’s these kinds of panels that make WordStorm so remarkable. You will find yourself crying and laughing, getting goose-bumps and lumps in your throat as writers delve deep into our relationships, our pasts and our futures. They generate the love that’s at the heart of all good writing,” says Ms Thibodeaux.

WordStorm 2008 will include an annual comedy debate held in a local sports club on the topic That the Pen is Mightier Than the Bat and an 'evening of murder' staged at the Fannie Bay Gaol.

There will be the regular Makan Pagi Puisi (Indonesian Poets' Breakfast), a literary lunch featuring Helen Garner and an Indigenous copyright lunch at Hanuman Restaurant.

Writers attending the 2008 festival include Dorothy Porter, Alexis Wright, Charles Firth, Gideon Haigh, Anita Heiss and Gayle Kennedy. It will be held in Darwin May 15-18 with events in Alice Springs May 9-11, and Tennant Creek May 12-13.

Many writers have made themselves available for schools workshops, where children and young adults can meet them and learn about all aspects of writing, whether for book, theatre or screen.

Further information visit www.ntwriters.com.au

Kimberley Storm by Franck Goheir, Courtesy of the artist and Ray Hughes Gallery



WordStorm – flying through the sky of the Top End With its unique location at the doorstep of Asia, Darwin’s upcoming WordStorm literary festival will feature the writing of its near neighbours. It is billed as northern Australia’s largest literary festival and this year will include sessions in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. At least 70 writers have signed to attend the festival. Director, Sandra Thibodeaux, says WordStorm has a cross-cultural focus with writers participating from four main cultural groups – Indigenous Australia, non-Indigenous Australia, Indonesia and East Timor. This year, four writers from Singapore and the Maori poet and songwriter Hinemoana Baker, are also coming. “What we try to do is bring the cultural groups together for the kind of dialogue and debate that writers do well,” says director Sandra Thibodeaux. “While we cover the standard writers’ festival topics such as ‘Writing your Memoir’ and ‘Getting Published’, the more interesting conversations are those that tackle the nitty-gritty subjects of life. This year, there will be A considered Response (to the Federal Intervention), After Suharto, The practice of Subversion, Sorry and Not Suitable for Children, which explores the issue of censorship.” “In my opinion, it’s these kinds of panels that make WordStorm so remarkable. You will find yourself crying and laughing, getting goose-bumps and lumps in your throat as writers delve deep into our relationships, our pasts and our futures. They generate the love that’s at the heart of all good writing,” says Ms Thibodeaux. WordStorm 2008 will include an annual comedy debate held in a local sports club on the topic That the Pen is Mightier Than the Bat and an 'evening of murder' staged at the Fannie Bay Gaol. There will be the regular Makan Pagi Puisi (Indonesian Poets' Breakfast), a literary lunch featuring Helen Garner and an Indigenous copyright lunch at Hanuman Restaurant. Writers attending the 2008 festival include Dorothy Porter, Alexis Wright, Charles Firth, Gideon Haigh, Anita Heiss and Gayle Kennedy. It will be held in Darwin May 15-18 with events in Alice Springs May 9-11, and Tennant Creek May 12-13. Many writers have made themselves available for schools workshops, where children and young adults can meet them and learn about all aspects of writing, whether for book, theatre or screen. Further information visit www.ntwriters.com.au	Back to main newsletter

Many of the projects in this newsletter have been supported by the Regional Arts Fund, an Australian Government initiative supporting the arts in regional, remote and very remote/isolated Australia. Regional Arts Australia promotes the development of the arts for the one-in-three Australians who live in regional, rural and remote parts of the country. Our members give country Australians access to outstanding cultural experiences that are either home grown or tour from other towns and cities. In this way, Regional Arts Australia gives a voice to artists and puts culture at the heart of community life across country Australia.