Louise Adler, Randa Abdel-Fattah Lead Adelaide Literary Festival Rebels
A new literary festival in Adelaide titled “Constellations: Not Writers’ Week” is set to take place in response to the recent cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW). This one-off event will feature prominent voices, including Palestinian-Australian author Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah and former Writers’ Week director Louise Adler.
Background of the Event
The cancellation of AWW occurred after Dr. Abdel-Fattah’s uninvitation from the program sparked widespread outrage and a boycott involving 180 writers. The fallout led to Adler’s resignation and a significant shakeup in the Adelaide Festival board, resulting in an apology to Abdel-Fattah and an invitation for her to attend next year’s event.
Notable Participants
- Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Louise Adler
- Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek finance minister
- Professor Clare Wright, writer and academic
- Bob Brown, former Australian Greens leader
- Melissa Lucashenko, Miles Franklin Award winner
- J.M. Coetzee, Nobel Prize-winning author
Notably, Varoufakis will engage in discussions with both Abdel-Fattah and Adler at different venues as part of the Australian Institute events scheduled for March.
Festival Details
The Constellations festival is organized to run from February 28 to March 5, coinciding with when AWW was originally planned. The event will be held at various locations in Adelaide, emphasizing accessibility with most activities being free or donation-based. Local booksellers, publishers, and the non-profit organization Writers South Australia have collaborated to create this grassroots festival.
Freedom of Expression and Inclusivity
Jennifer Mills, co-organizer of Constellations and head of Writers South Australia, expressed pride in the solidarity shown for this new event. She highlighted the festival’s aim to prioritize diverse voices, particularly those from marginalized communities. This initiative comes as a response to concerns regarding attacks on freedom of expression within the arts sector.
- Focus on Palestinian and First Nations voices
- Support for authors excluded from the previous AWW lineup
- Challenge issued to the South Australian Premier to engage with the festival
In creating this festival, Mills emphasized the importance of ensuring that voices are heard rather than allowing a silence to prevail in the community during this critical time.
Conclusion
The Constellations festival opens a new chapter for literary expression in Adelaide. It seeks to empower voices that have been marginalized and foster a community dialogue through literature during its inaugural run.
