2022 Writers Festival 2022 Byron BYRON WRITERS FESTIVAL
26 — 28 August byronwritersfestival.com 26 — 28 August byronwritersfestival.com/tickets
Welcome to Byron Writers Festival 2022! W hat does it mean to bring back this beloved festival after a two-year hiatus, in the wake of pandemic, fires and floods? What role do the arts play in binding our community? To me, writers’ festivals are at the forefront of making our culture, a forum where our deepest thinkers can put forward their visions for another world. They are a space to broaden the mind and wonder at the power literature and words have to connect us. Right now we need so deeply to
reconnect, to reflect. If there is any silver lining to be gained from our recent experiences, it is that we can mobilise to adapt right now. I want us to reflect on our power at this year’s festival. It lies in our ability to act together as a community, caring for one another in the common interest. Climate change is knocking on our front door. We need to empower people of all genders and backgrounds. First Nations communities still need to be front and centre of this quest. Now is the time for a radical kind
Zoë Pollock
of hope, that imagines the world anew, that refuses to be defeated and finds delight and joy in everything this wonderful life and Earth have to offer.
I invite you to join some of our greatest thinkers and finest writers at this year’s Byron Writers Festival, to celebrate the power of words to transcend our current reality. At this year’s festival you will hear from social and environmental experts on how we can tackle the challenge that is climate change. You will be uplifted by listening to our most gifted storytellers explaining how they celebrate the human condition and render our experiences so magnificently on the page. You will meet talented
emerging and established writers who are challenging the status quo. In hearing and engaging with these ideas you are playing your part in making the world anew and I am very much looking forward to welcoming you. – Zoë Pollock, Artistic Director ■ Byron Writers Festival is held on
the lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin peoples of the Bundjalung Nation, we pay respect to the traditional owners of these lands and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of this region.
Three days with your favourite writers and thinkers
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What’s the best ticket type for me?
yron Writers Festival is renowned for its relaxed and friendly vibe, beachside location and compelling conversations. But how do you ‘do’ a writers’ festival? Here are some quick facts to help you tailor your festival experience. ■ All tickets available online at
byronwriterfestival.com/tickets.
What happens at the Festival? Byron Writers Festival brings writers and thinkers from many walks of life to the Byron Shire. The speakers are acknowledged writers and experts in their field and their works span a huge variety of topics – they are artists, environmentalists, journalists, poets, philosophers, musicians, politicians, activists and of course, novelists. It is set up a bit like a music festival, with five big top marquees featuring panel discussions and conversations with Australian and international guests. Most sessions are 45 minutes to one hour in length, and you can wander between stages as you please. The discussions in panels are centred around a topical theme, while conversations tend to
showcase the work of one author. It’s a great way to hear new ideas and discover authors you haven’t read before. For refreshments, you can choose from local coffee and food stalls or you are welcome to bring a picnic. Shop to your heart’s content at the splendid bookshop run by our bookseller The Book Room, or browse our marketplace showcasing a select group of local artisans. Most festival authors will be in the book-signing tent after their sessions. On Festival Sunday, one marquee is turned over in the morning to children’s authors and illustrators so the kids can have a special day meeting
their favourite storytellers and participating in free creative workshops. Kids Big Day Out kicks off at 9am and runs until midday and is a jampacked day of entertainment that will set young imaginations on fire.
Do I need to be a writer to enjoy the Festival? No! Byron Writers Festival is all about stories and ideas and bringing together diverse people, communities and perspectives. Most people attend to listen to contemporary voices, engage with new ideas, meet other curious-minded people and fall in love with new books.
I S L A N D
We have created a number of different ticket types, so people from all walks of life can enjoy the stories, discussion and debate that make up the festival program. You can book tickets and check availability (some ticket types may sell out) at byronwritersfestival.com/tickets. 3-Day Passes give you access to all sessions (99 of them!) happening in the main festival program across the whole weekend. This pass is a great choice if you would like the time and space to fully immerse yourself in the festival and wish to attend for more than one day. 1-Day Passes give you access to sessions happening in the main festival program for your chosen day – Friday, Saturday or Sunday. This pass is the best choice if you have limited time but still want the ‘festival’ experience. Most writers appear on more than one day but check out the full program online via byronwritersfestival.com/festival-program to find out which days your favourite writers will be appearing. Feature Events, Satellite Events and Workshops are separately
ticketed one-off events that take place over festival week throughout the Northern Rivers region. Feature and Satellite Events present a curated selection of festival guests, and some of these events are free. The perfect solution if you can’t make it to the main festival, or have never been before and are curious to get a taste.
Can I take the kids?
Yes! On Sunday 28 August one of the marquees is dedicated to Kids Big Day Out, a wonderful program chockfull of entertainment for kids aged six to 12. The Kids Big Day Out Pass admits one child (6–12 years) and one accompanying adult to the kids marquee only on Sunday for $40. Additional children are $20 each, and pre-schoolers are free. The new Sunday Family Pass admits one child (6–12 years) and two adults to the festival site on Sunday 28 August for $175. Additional children are $20 each, and preschoolers are free. This pass is a great option if you love the idea of sharing the Kids Big Day Out program with your children but also wish to catch other sessions in the main program. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult at all times.
L U X E
Two distinct locations, two unique experiences. With an aesthetic rooted in a timeless, honest simplicity and a strong belief that we can experience a holistic sense of the world and ourselves through restraint and making considered choices for the way we curate our lives.
Island Luxe Bangalow
Island Luxe Tribe Byron Bay
62 Byron Street, Bangalow
1/11 Marvell Street, Byron Bay
02 6687 1605 info@islandluxe.com.au
02 6680 9600 tribe@islandluxe.com.au
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August 24, 2022 The Byron Shire Echo 29