Williamstown Literary Festival
Encyclopedia
Starting in 2003, the annual Williamstown Literary Festival has grown into one of Melbourne’s most respected wordfests, attracting some of Australia's best-loved authors.
The idea of the festival was developed over a coffee in one of Williamstown
's many cafes by co-founders Angela Altair and Catherine Ryan, and has now grown to be one of the biggest in Melbourne’s western suburbs. There is a strong focus on local participation, programming and support with the annual Peoples Choice awards showcasing aspiring local writers and poets. The festival is run by a committee of skilled locals, supported by working groups who help with the programming, marketing and sponsorship. An executive officer undertakes the festival management throughout the year.
The annual Ada Cambridge
short story prize gives local scribblers another opportunity to strut their literary stuff and is unique to the western suburbs.
Another annual award is the Seagulls Poetry Prize.
Each festival features workshops, panels, children’s events and readings, attracting over 2,000 visitors.
The main events take place at the Williamstown Town Hall
, with events in the week before the festival in venues throughout the local area.
The 2011 festival starts on Tuesday 26 April with a series of pre-festival events, including the popular People's Choice on Thursday 28 April at the Pirates Tavern in Williamstown. The Opening Night is on Friday 29 April at the Williamstown Town Hall with a full weekend of events on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May.
The idea of the festival was developed over a coffee in one of Williamstown
Williamstown
Williamstown or Williamtown is the name of several places in the world:Australia*Williamtown, New South Wales**RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales*Williamstown, South Australia*Williamstown, Victoria**Williamstown railway line...
's many cafes by co-founders Angela Altair and Catherine Ryan, and has now grown to be one of the biggest in Melbourne’s western suburbs. There is a strong focus on local participation, programming and support with the annual Peoples Choice awards showcasing aspiring local writers and poets. The festival is run by a committee of skilled locals, supported by working groups who help with the programming, marketing and sponsorship. An executive officer undertakes the festival management throughout the year.
The annual Ada Cambridge
Ada Cambridge
Ada Cambridge , later known as Ada Cross, was an English writer.Overall she wrote more than twenty-five works of fiction, three volumes of poetry and two autobiographical works...
short story prize gives local scribblers another opportunity to strut their literary stuff and is unique to the western suburbs.
Another annual award is the Seagulls Poetry Prize.
Each festival features workshops, panels, children’s events and readings, attracting over 2,000 visitors.
The main events take place at the Williamstown Town Hall
Williamstown Town Hall
Williamstown Town Hall is a civic building located in Williamstown, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.The hall was built in the 1920s in the Greek revival style, and opened officially in 1927 ....
, with events in the week before the festival in venues throughout the local area.
The 2011 festival starts on Tuesday 26 April with a series of pre-festival events, including the popular People's Choice on Thursday 28 April at the Pirates Tavern in Williamstown. The Opening Night is on Friday 29 April at the Williamstown Town Hall with a full weekend of events on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May.