Bendigo Writers Festival to move to autumn in 2021

After eight years as a winter festival, the Bendigo Writers Festival will move to autumn with the next full festival planned to take place in May 2021.

Manager, Capital Venues and Events David Lloyd said this year’s Bendigo Writers Festival was a resounding success and a review provided the opportunity to look at how to build on its success and grow in the future.

“Bendigo is the biggest regional writers festival in Victoria and we have plans to make it even bigger and better. This year’s event attracted a record 5,700 visitors and a 30 per cent increase in box office sales during the three day event.” Mr Lloyd said.

“Our review looked at many factors and changing the Bendigo Writers Festival to May was a perfect option in the literary events calendar with both Sydney and Auckland events scheduled around the same time. This will give us the opportunity to look at potential collaboration, such as securing international authors.”  

In 2020, a boutique festival will run in early May, as a transition to the new autumn scheduling.

Festival Director Rosemary Sorensen said the move to May 2021 was a great decision.

“With big changes to the August cultural calendar about to occur in Melbourne, that opens up an enticing space for our city and region. It is time to take all the great things about the festival, its focus on quality and the much-admired use of excellent venues as well as the welcoming atmosphere, to make it even better,” Ms Sorensen said.

“In the lead up to festival, a series of bookmark events are planned starting this November and running throughout 2020 which will give people the opportunity to sample the very best of Australian and international authors events.”

The very popular poet and performer Lemn Sissay will launch the first in the series of bookmark events in November with his one hour show celebrating his memoir My Name is Why.