
Perth Festival and Writing WA have formed a dynamic new partnership to present Perth Writers Weekend at Perth Festival 2024.
Writing WA, invigorated with new energy under exciting new leadership, will apply its expertise and care to curate a Perth Writers Weekend that celebrates writing in all its forms at Perth Festival.
This new partnership with WA’s peak writing body continues Perth Festival’s commitment to supporting and working closely with local partner organisations and experts in their field.
With extra investment and support from Perth Festival, Writing WA can enhance its role as the State’s peak body for the local writing and reading community by co-presenting this special weekend.
The revamped Writers Weekend will have a new home at the State Library of Western Australia. This well-loved institution has long treasured and shared WA stories, adjoins other Perth Festival venues in the Perth Cultural Centre and provides good transport access for audiences from all around Perth.
Writing WA is a trusted organisation for writers and has embarked on an exciting new chapter with an expanded calendar of events and activities under new Chief Executive Officer William Yeoman.
William is an experienced and highly regarded festival director, journalist, musician and curator who programmed the Writers Weekend at Perth Festival in 2018 and 2019. His return to programming the Writers Weekend with the Writing WA team follows Sisonke Msimang’s departure from Perth Festival to pursue her own writing.
Writers Weekend will distil a concentrated program of events, workshops and other activities for audiences of all ages and interests to binge on over the weekend of 23-25 February. Perth Festival also will integrate its Ideas programming with the Performance and Visual Arts programs to deepen conversations across the entire three weeks of the Festival.
Writing WA CEO William Yeoman said: ‘Writing WA is proud to be embarking on this bold new venture with Perth Festival. Sharp, witty, engaging panel discussions and workshops covering convergent and divergent perspectives: Perth Festival Writers Weekend 2024 features the best homegrown literary talent in robust discussion with Australian and international superstars. Think World Championship Wrestling for writers, with the State Library of WA as the ideal super stadium.’
Perth Festival Artistic Director Iain Grandage said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Writing WA as a partner to present the 2024 Writers Weekend. As we continue to celebrate the stories and storytellers of this place, there is no deeper understanding of the special relationship between authors and readers than Will Yeoman and the Writing WA team. It is a thrill to welcome their program to the State Library in the heart of the Cultural Centre – it is bound to spark imaginations and conversations in new and exciting ways.’
The State Library of Western Australia is proud to be hosting the Perth Festival Writers Weekend, curated by Writing WA.
The State Library’s goal is to treasure West Australian stories, inspire possibilities and to strengthen communities. Writing WA’s thoughtfully curated program of leading WA authors, special guests, thought-provoking panel conversations and community-focussed workshops will align perfectly with these values. Expect to hear new stories and conversations ring out in a building that continues to house, preserve and share the State’s most-treasured stories and voices.
We will be providing more details about Writers Weekend when Perth Festival launches the Perth Festival 2024 Program on 25 October. Perth Festival runs 9 February to 3 March 2024.
Contact
Stephen Bevis, Communications Manager
+61 8 6488 8618 / +61 448 927 281
[email protected]
Perth Festival
Founded in 1953 by The University of Western Australia, Perth Festival is the longest running international arts festival in Australia and Western Australia’s premier cultural event. The Festival has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence in its international program, the presentation of new works and the highest quality artistic experiences for its audience. For 70 years, the Festival has welcomed to Perth some of the world’s greatest living artists and now connects with hundreds of thousands of people each year. Iain Grandage is the Artistic Director 2020 – 24.