Q-Lit Queer Festival of Words launched in Vic; Byron Writers Fest dates, new location

January 31, 2023 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing

A new festival for queer readers and writers has been launched in Victoria, funded by Midsumma, Victoria’s Pride and the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

The Q-Lit Queer Victorian Festival of Words will link five regional areas and bring regional writers to the Victoria’s Pride event in Melbourne on February 12, 2023. Each one-day regional festival event – which has so far taken place in Ballarat, Shepparton and Taralgon with events in Geelong and Warrnambool planned for April – consists of masterclasses, author interviews, readings and workshops for primary and secondary school aged children. There will also be opportunities for emerging and established local writers to share their work with the festival’s touring writers.

The festival’s creative director is Geelong-based author Kate Hall, author of the novel From Darkness, published by US queer publisher Interlude Press. Q-Lit’s creative producer is Melbourne-based performance artist Timothy Christopher Ryan.

According to the organizers, the team will spend the later part of this year “working towards an expanded festival in Melbourne”.

The Byron Writers Festival announces date and venue

In other festival news, the Byron Writers Festival has announced that this year’s event will be held on August 11-13 at the new Bangalow Showgrounds venue in the town of Bangalow, 15 minutes from Byron Bay.

The festival previously took place at Elements of Byron Resort.

Artistic Director Zoë Pollock says: “We are grateful to Elements for generously hosting the festival for so long and will cherish the many wonderful memories we all share. As with all good things, it has now come to an end and the Elements website is destined for a new owner and a new future.’

According to Pollock, this year’s festival will utilize several indoor venues within the Bangalow Shows compound, including the Moller Pavilion and Bangalow A&I Hall.

After two years of pandemic-related cancellations, the 2022 Byron Writers Festival attracted almost 9,500 visitors. General release tickets for the 2023 festival go on sale when the full program is announced on June 28th. Visit the festival website for more information on ticketing.

Category: Local News