Wednesday, July 10, 2013

London to host ANZ literature and arts festival

  09.07.13 | Joshua Farrington - The Bookseller


A new festival celebrating culture from Australia and New Zealand will be held in London from 15th to 18th May 2014.
The Australian and New Zealand Festival of Literature and Arts, produced and coordinated by Amphora Arts, will bring writers, musicians and film makers to the capital to take part in events.

The event is being supported by the governments of the two countries through their arts bodies, the Australia Council for the Arts and Creative New Zealand, while the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions in London will host events and take part in the build up to the festival.

Jill Eddington, director of literature at the Australia Council for the Arts, called the festival "a very exciting initiative which will increase the visibility of Australian books in international markets." Creative New Zealand chief executive Stephen Wainwright said: "The festival will raise the profile of literature from our two countries, and give our expat communities and Londoners the opportunity to personally engage with Australasian writers, stories, food."

Author Thomas Keneally (pictured) said: "Dear England, we're going to send you a big present: our Australian and New Zealand writers, film and music makers. It will all be like a series of loveable and brilliant personages emerging from the gift box and invigorating and charming you."
To prepare for the festival there will be several warm-up events, including a Literary BBQ on 29th August at the Hammersmith Lyric Theatre, featuring novelists such as Courtney Collins, Craig Silvey, Eleanor Catton and Hannah Kent.

Key contacts include Jon Slack (jon@ausnzfestival.com), for programme queries for writers and artists; and publicist Rina Gill (rina@ausnzfestival.com). Amphora Arts is also the organisation behind the London-based South Asian Literature Festival.

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