BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL BOASTS PRESTIGIOUS LINE-UP

Published Wednesday, 12 September, 2007 at 05:32 PM

Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford

Authors, poets and songwriters, hailing from Mongolia to Mt Isa, will reveal their passions and practices at the Brisbane Writers Festival from 12-16 September.

Arts Minister Rod Welford said the festival, now in its 11th year, would be officially launched at the State Library of Queensland tonight.

“The Brisbane Writers Festival is the state’s premier literary event and organisers are expecting more than 30,000 people to take part in 2007,” Mr Welford said.

“I congratulate festival director Michael Campbell for securing a prestigious national and international line-up for this year’s program.

“Internationally esteemed authors taking part include Man Booker Prize nominees South African Damon Galgut and Ireland’s Michael Collins, food activist Raj Patel and biographer Victoria Glendinning.

“Renowned Australian and Queensland writers involved this year include Tom Keneally, David Malouf, Les Murray, Nick Earls, Kev Carmody, Dorothy Porter and Hugh Mackay.

“Notably, of the 260 writers taking part, more than 150 are Queenslanders showcasing the depth of our state’s literary talent.

Mr Welford said the Brisbane Writers Festival also included two comprehensive student programs – Word Play and the Online Literature Festival.

“In 2006 Word Play was a phenomenal success, with all 10,000 places booked out within days, so this year’s program has doubled in size,” he said.

“Students will work alongside much-loved children’s authors Morris Gleitzman and Gary Crew, explore the secrets of song-writing with Australian Idol finalist Bobby Flynn, poetry with Robert Morris, international journalism with Mark Willacy and graphic novels with Shaun Tan.

“The Online Literature Festival is a collaboration between the festival and Education Queensland, which will ensure thousands of young people in regional Queensland have the opportunity to engage and workshop with guest writers.”

For program details visit www.brisbanewritersfestival.com.au.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000