Stay at home to experience the Bathurst Readers’ and Writers’ Festival

This year’s Bathurst Readers’ and Writers’ Festival will be a special stay-at-home event involving a mix of pre-recorded and live streamed sessions on Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre’s Facebook page from May 1-3.

Mayor Bobby Bourke said the event will be hosted by BMEC and Books Plus and is great opportunity for community engagement and entertainment by celebrating literature and our local creatives.

“The festival works with local playwrights to present short plays online as well as local poets presenting their work,” he said.

The festival will begin on Friday, 1 May at 5.45pm with an opening address from the Mayor. This will be followed by “Books You Have Missed”, a session where Books Plus staff and other special guests discuss their favourite books from the past 12 months.

The “Great Festival Read” panel will take place on Sunday, 3 May at 11.00am and will focus on this year’s chosen book, The Yield by Tara June Winch. The Yield combines history, culture and Wiradjuri language and has been nominated for multiple awards. Author, Tara June Winch, was mentored by Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka as part of the prestigious Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.

Festival Sessions:

Friday 1 May

5.50pm - Festival opening

6.00pm - Books You Might Have Missed

Saturday 2 May

10.00am - Storytime With Bathurst Library

11.00am - Multicultural Storytelling Project

2.00pm - Poetry Pickings

6.00pm - Creative Conversation

Sunday 3 May

11.00am - Great Festival Read

1.30pm - Play Readings

2.40pm - Wrap-up and Feedback

For more information about the program, visit www.facebook.com/BMECbathurst or www.bmec.com.au.

To access the events via Zoom instead of Facebook, contact BMEC on 6333 6161.

ENDS

Media contact: Media Officer M: 0448 685 340 E: [email protected]