Students from three low-decile schools will be rubbing
shoulders with international and local writers at the 2016 Auckland Writers
Festival Schools’ Programme thanks to the generosity of two passionate festival
supporters.
Mangere College, McAuley High School and Tangaroa College
are the recipients of the initiative, which will also include mentoring of
selected students across the year, in a Festival partnership with the Manukau
Institute of Technology, with support from The University of Auckland.
Accomplished New Zealand writers Tusiata Avia (MIT) and Paula Morris (UoA) will
oversee the mentoring component.
Now in its eighth year, the AWF Schools’ Programme, which
runs May 10-12 and is supported by Freemasons New Zealand, sees students from
all over Auckland filling the Town Hall and Aotea Centre auditoriums to
capacity to hear some of the world’s finest literary stars for younger readers.
Festival director Anne O’Brien says engaging students who
may otherwise not get opportunities to meet and hear writers is the realisation
of a long-held wish.
“Fostering a love of reading and books, and a belief in all
young people that they too can write their stories is hugely important to us.
We are thrilled to welcome students from these three schools,” says Ms O’Brien.
The initiative is one of several instigated by the Auckland
Writers Festival this year to enhance its Schools’ Programme.
The event has increased from two to three days enabling two
dedicated sessions for Years 5 and 6 students, as well as a full additional day
for Years 9-13 students. The result is 14 new sessions with capacity increased
to 6000 attendees over the three days.
In addition, the transport subsidy funded by the festival
has increased this year, assisting more low decile and regional school students
to attend.
The festival is also producing its own book which every
attending student will take home free. The book will include an illustration by
US writer and illustrator Edward Carey, short stories by Vincent O’Sullivan,
Kate de Goldi and Denis Wright, and a selection of poems by Tusiata Avia.
“We are passionate about encouraging the next generation of
readers. We want to demonstrate that books are fun, fascinating and potentially
life-changing.
“It is hugely satisfying to increase the breadth of the
festival’s schools’ programme in all these ways,” says Ms O’Brien.
Irish writer John Boyne of The Boy in
Striped Pyjamas fame is one of the world’s leading children’s
novelists. He talks about creating fiction and how we tell important
stories from our past. Liz Pichon, who writes the multi-million copy
bestselling Tom Gates books travels from England to entertain senior primary
school students.
US author Michael Grant wrote the bestselling Gone
and Beserk series. He’ll be introducing students to a genre-bending news
series, Frontline which re-imagines WWII with girl soldiers fighting at
the front. Students will be blown away by Australian spoken word performer Maxine
Beneba Clarke’s powerful performance exploring matters of life and
identity.
British philosopher Julian Baggini brings his wit,
infectious curiosity and bracing sceptism, while Kiwi expat Jonathan Gil
Harris will have students falling in love with Shakespeare. Edward
Carey will talk about his acclaimed Ironmonger trilogy and the
relationship between writing characters and drawing them.
Some of New Zealand’s best-known children’s and YA writing
talent will be there, too. Among them are Indian Ink’s Jacob Rajan, the
multi-award winning Kate De Goldi, chart-topping country and blues
singer Tami Neilson, author-illustrator Donovan Bixley,
internationally acclaimed poet Tusiata Avia and much-loved author and
painter Bob Kerr.
Tickets – which are only open
for purchase via schools - are now available. The events - which cater
for students from Year 5 to Year 13 - have sold out in previous years, so
schools are encouraged to book early.
For a full schools’ programme
please go to www.writersfestival.co.nz. To make enquiries, email schools@writersfestival.co.nz and for bookings go to groups@ticketmaster.co.nz or call Ticketmaster on 09 970 9745.
Day attendance (entry to four sessions) is just $12 per
student and must be booked through schools. Workshops, which offer highly
motivated students a rare opportunity to learn from, and be inspired by,
leading writers, are $15 per workshop per student. Schools needing financial
transport assistance can apply to the Festival’s Transport Fund.
The Auckland Writers Festival
Schools’ Programme is made possible with the generous support of Gold Partner
The Freemasons Foundation.
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