Beautiful blue skies blessed last weekend’s Writers Festival, held at its new venue, the Bangalow Showgrounds.
Organisers say the festival attracted close to 10,000 patrons to 80 sessions, eight workshops, 12 feature and satellite events, and a two-day schools program.
Zoë Pollock, CEO and artistic director of Byron Writers Festival, said, ‘What an incredible five days – our beautiful new site in Bangalow was absolutely singing with joy!’
Pollock also announced the festival received a pledge of $1 million from the Vasudhara Fund.
‘The gift, to be paid over the next ten years, will contribute to the ongoing viability of the festival and support the continued presentation of women writers and First Nations authors’.
Thanks to donations from ticket buyers, close to 500 students from flood affected schools were able to attend the festival’s schools program at no cost, with a further $3,000 donated to support students in 2024. The festival also raised over $3000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. More than 150 volunteers from across the Northern Rivers community and beyond helped deliver the festival.
