CWF 2023
The Canberra Writers Festival (CWF) was held from 16–20 August 2023. This year the program was full of heart and evidence of an artistic director truly attuned to this city. Warmth oozed from every aspect. It was a shame we couldn’t get to everything. However our board and staff did our best to cover as many sessions as we could.
L-R Yasmin Smith, Ellen Van Neerven, Debra Dank, Evelyn Araluen
There were many highlights in the program including the superb panel for ‘Celebrating the Classics’ featuring Evelyn Araluen, Debra Dank, Ellen Van Neerven, and Yasmin Smith (UQ Books). Then there was the celebratory event ‘Feared and Revered: Radicals, Rebels And Reformers’ of the 1970s held at the National Museum of Australia. This panel of living legends took a deep dive into the moments, the issues, the brawls and brainstorms behind the headlines. Inspired by the book, Women and Whitlam by Michelle Arrow, the panel was comprised of Gilliam (Gill) Appleton, Cathy Eatock, Gail Radford, Elizabeth Reid, Biff Ward and Michelle Arrow, and was moderated by Virginia Haussegger AM.
Joe Brumm in conversation with Beejay Silcox was a heart-warming and fascinating insight into how the children’s show ‘Bluey’ which he created has taken the world by storm. A broad-based light-hearted discussion about the ins and outs of scriptwriting for children, the evolution of an idea and an exploration of creativity in a unique setting.
L-R Peter Papathanasiou, Lucy Campbell, Alison Booth and Emma Macdonald
There was a lot in the program, and of course political panels and nonfiction works aplenty. CWF achieved a great balance this year and we were thrilled to see so many of our region’s authors participating on panels and being given the opportunity to talk through their work. The ACT region is building quite the reputation for excellence in outback noir and we had fun peeking into that world beneath with panellists Peter Papathanasiou, Lucy Campbell and Alison Booth for ‘Bloodthirsty Brilliance’. And ‘Homecoming’ with ACT-based award-winning author Zoya Patel and debut novelist Kirsty Jagger was not to be missed, facilitated by Genevieve Jacobs.
Bring on 2025! Thanks to Beejay Silcox and the CWF on delivering a meaningful, diverse event with heart and an evident love for our city.
