This year the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) will be collaborating with state-based development organisation Writing WA to bring the festival to Australia in a dual live and digital format.
With support from the WA State Government, a special program of UWRF events will be held at The Rechabite in Perth from 8-10 October 2021. Australians unable to travel overseas will still be able to participate in a raft of literary activities slated for the festival.
‘Over the past 10 years Writing WA has worked closely with the incredible team at UWRF, sponsoring numerous West Australian writers and illustrators to travel to Indonesia to participate, and hosting the special KEMBALI20 program. UWRF Perth will be a hybrid festival combining both live and digital events, bringing the creativity, insight, and reflection of UWRF to Perth’ said Sharon Flindell, CEO of Writing WA.
Program details have yet to be announced, but will feature online participation from interstate and international presenters. Events will be livestreamed and allow for interaction in real time with audiences in both Perth and Ubud, as well as online audiences everywhere.
‘UWRF Perth will be a hybrid festival combining both live and digital events, bringing the creativity, insight, and reflection of UWRF to Perth’
Sharon Flindell, Writing WA
First conceived in 2004 as a healing project in response to the first Bali bombings, the UWRF mandate is to gather a mix of Indonesian and international writers, speakers, thinkers, artists, advocates, commentators and activists for cross-cultural dialogue and connection.
Now in its 18th year, the festival’s 10-day program (8-17 October) will occur online and on ground in Ubud, Bali. The theme of 2021 is Mulat Sarira which translates as self-reflection.
FESTIVAL GUESTS
Headlining this year’s internationally vibrant UWRF is Indian author Amitav Ghosh, winner of the 54th Jnanpith award, India’s highest literary honor. Joining him will be two other award-winning writers: Italian-American author André Aciman and Pulitzer Prize winner, Vietnamese-American novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Other guests of the festival include Canadian cultural anthropologist, ethnobotanist, author, and photographer, Wade Davis; Mexican-American poet, Ada Limón; Australian journalist, broadcaster and author, Julia Baird; and American-Canadian author and filmmaker, Ruth Ozeki.
One of Indonesia’s most influential writers, Budi Darma, will also be in attendance, along with author and poet Felix K. Nesi and news presenter, Desi Anwar. Meanwhile, documentary photographer Joshua Irwandi will showcase a different form of storytelling through his award-winning images.
Read: How to take a writers festival digital
Joining the chorus of writers will be artists and activists: Balinese-born author, novelist, poet, scriptwriter, and performance artist Cok Sawitri; human rights activist Eva Bande reflecting on the archipelago’s minorities and marginalized communities and young activist and writer Kalis Mardiasih.
‘I’m thrilled to be welcoming such a diverse group of writers and artists to this year’s Festival and I look forward to the conversations we will hold over the ten days,’ commented Janet DeNeefe, Founder and Director of UWRF.
‘I am also excited to be continuing our relationship with West Australian writers by bringing a touch of UWRF to Perth,’ she said.
More information and ticket bookings will be made available in the coming weeks at UWRF Perth.
Local and international: a joint venture between WA Writers and Ubud Writers and Readers Festival - ArtsHub
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