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Byron Writers Festival

2021 Festival Dates

6 – 8 August


DONATE

DIGITAL PROGRAM

Welcome

Byron Writers Festival 2020 Digital Program


Ordinarily at this time, we would all be gathering on Bundjalung Country in beautiful Byron Bay for three days of storytelling, conversation and ideas. But of course these are not ordinary times and this year’s Festival has regrettably been postponed until 6 – 8 August 2021.

For what would have been Festival week, we are delighted to share with you a very special podcast: the 2020 Thea Astley Address, delivered by one of Australia’s most eminent Indigenous academics and advocates, Professor Marcia Langton.

Also released for Festival week are several new Conversations from Byron podcasts, along with the release of our popular Schools Program (which is available to the general public for Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August only).

Tune in online at Byron WF Digital, or via your podcast app.

We hope you enjoy listening to these wonderful conversations with some of Australia’s foremost writers and thinkers, and we look forward to seeing you all next year on the Festival grounds in Byron Bay.

Take care,

Edwina Johnson and the Festival Team


DONATE

Support the 2021 Festival


As a not-for-profit organisation, our ticketing income is essential to the success of future Festivals. If you were planning to come to Byron Writers Festival this year, we invite you to consider making a donation instead.

Your gift will help us create a stand-out Festival in 2021, as well as supporting Australian writers, and the arts in regional Australia. 

Donations can be made at:
givenow.com.au/byronwritersfestival

or alternatively you can contact us directly if you would like to talk to one of our team:
[email protected]
02 6685 5115

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

The Festival Team all look forward to seeing you next year and thank you for your ongoing support.


DONATE NOW

Never miss a beat

Sign up to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram as we continue to post Festival updates throughout the coming months.

Get a taste of the Festival

Never been and heard great things? Watch our show reel from last year’s Festival and relive the highlights with our 2019 photo gallery and podcast series.


FESTIVAL BLOG

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#byronwf2020



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WITH THANKS

Funding Partners

Thank you to our 2020 funding partners for making this program possible.

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Festival 2019

Relive the memories with our 2019 Photo Gallery

The sun shone under a bluebird sky after a rainbow-dappled Friday to the delight of weekend Festival-goers. An unforgettable weekend for our guests and patrons alike.

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And we’re off!

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Babara Toner finds her funny bone with Toni Jordan and Mandy Nolan

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Lessons in scarf-wearing: Head, neck and shoulders.

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Nevo Zisin on growing up queer in Australia

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#MeToo: Where To? with Amal Awad, Ginger Gorman, David Leser and Tracey Spicer

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Tara June Winch lays down the law when it comes to creativity and motherhood

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The PM Years with Kevin Rudd

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John Marsden on The Art of Growing Up

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No pots of gold unfortunately, but plenty of golden nuggets at the end of these rainbows!

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Vicki Laveau-Harvie on Memoir: Running in the Family

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Dr Julia Shaw delves into our darker thoughts on Exploring Evil with Gianrico Carofiglio

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Markus Zusak on crossing his Bridge of Clay

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Zusak fans

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Storm Clouds stayed at bay for most of the day

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Natasha Stott Despoja, Scott Ludlam and Dennis Atkins tackle the question: What’s Happened to our Politics

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Lisa-ann Gershwin on the joys of jellyfish

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Crusaders Against Corruption

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Roman Quaedvlieg on Crusaders Against Corruption

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Kate McClymont on Crusaders Against Corruption

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Ash Grunwald shares some acoustic tunes in his session

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Bruce Pascoe, Bronwyn Bancroft and Karla Dickens share a joke with chair Adam Shoemaker in The Stories Embedded in Landscape

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Bruce Pascoe enjoys a good ribbing

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Streaming in on Saturday under our Festival flags

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Delta Kay takes flight for Welcome to Country

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Mob reunions with Melissa Lucashenko, Uncle Jack Charles and Delta Kay

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Getting their kicks

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Well… THAT was funny

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Tim Flannery

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Sarah Hanson Young shares a laugh on ‘The Mental Load: A Woman’s Lot

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Gabbie Stroud’s heartfelt experiences resonate with many

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Sharing the load in The Mental Load

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Natasha Stott Despoja on Domestic Violence: A National Emergency

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Full house for Resilience, Strength and Adversity with Leigh Sales, Chloe Hooper and Tim Costello

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Soaking it up

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Leigh Sales

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Uncle Jack Charles had us laughing and crying in his memorable conversation

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The Sculpture Appreciation Society strike a pose

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Grazing

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Dr Julia Shaw strikes a pose

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The Debrief

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Bruce Pascoe’s conversation with Kerry O’Brien drew capacity crowds under a sunny winter’s sky

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A standing ovation for Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu conversation with Kerry O’Brien

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Adam Spence and Eddie Woo get their geek on in Amazing Mathematics

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An overflowing room sits riveted to Behrouz Boochani, live streamed from Manus Island

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Min Jin Lee, Benjamin Law, Jennifer Clement and Markus Zusak on the Family as Saga

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Jennifer Clement reflects on Family Saga

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Question time with Alison Lester at Kids Big Day Out

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Hands up for Morris Gleitzman at Kids Big Day Out

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Our 2019 Story Sleuths with Tristan Bancks

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The StoryBoard Story Space in action at Kids Big Day Out

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Alison Lester’s mural gets some finishing touches

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A.C. Grayling inspires the next generation of philosophers

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A.C. Grayling delivers the annual Thea Astley Address on Democracy and its Crisis

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Enthralled

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Sitting back for Democracy and its Crisis

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Hung Le relives one of many awkward moments…v

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And the audience laps it up!

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Taking time out to reflect

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Dmon Gameau on his hopes for 2040 with Nathan Scolaro

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Ending the weekend on a high note with Shire Choir

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Shire Choir’s Malea Naughton

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Coming together as community to celebrate and rejoice!

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A HUGE thank you to all of our WONDERFUL volunteers!! Your smiles and generosity are what make this Festival truly special!A HUGE thank you to all of our WONDERFUL volunteers!! Your smiles and generosity are what make this Festival truly special!

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