UQP authors at Blak & Bright Festival 2024

Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival returns to Naarm (Melbourne) in 2024. Established in 2016, the four-day showcase celebrates the diverse expressions of First Nations writers and covers all genres from oral stories to epic novels and plays to poetry.

UQP authors Tony Birch, Jeanine Leane, Melissa Lucashenko, Evelyn Araluen and Amy Thunig join this year's stellar line-up, PLUS our very own Yasmin Smith (editor of UQP's First Nations Classics Series) will be speaking at 'Blak Imprints', discussing First Nations publishing.

Most events are FREE, but bookings are essential. Tickets available via the links below and on the Blak & Bright website.

BLAK & BRIGHT FESTIVAL OPENING - 15 March, 6:30-8:30pm at The Capital RMIT

Join us to celebrate the official opening of the 2024 Blak & Bright Literary Festival! Join the world’s most successful, blockbuster, best-selling writers as they manifest their next best original idea, reinvent the genre and write existence into its future. With Carly Sheppard, Kamarra Bell-Wykes / A Daylight Connection. Then… Two icons interviewing each other. What does a writer want to know about another writer? With Kim Scott and Tony Birch.

THE CRAFT OF WRITING - 16 March, 1:45-2:45pm at The Wheeler Centre

There’s more than one way to write a good story. Three writers sit down to discuss their methods of the craft. With Jeanine Leane, Julie Janson, Kim Scott and moderated by Evelyn Araluen.

BLAK IMPRINTS - 16 March, 4:15-5:15pm at The Wheeler Centre

Writers discuss the importance of First Nations imprints in publishing. What else is needed in the publishing ecology? With Rachel Bin Salleh, Tisha Carter, Yasmin Smith and moderated by Sandra Phillips.

BLAK BOOK CLUB - 16 March, 5:30-6:30pm at The Wheeler Centre

We explore the themes of two recent publications, Edenglassie and The Visitors, with insight from the authors. With Jane Harrison, Melissa Lucashenko and moderated by Daniel Browning.

BIG BLAK POETRY READ - 16 March, 6:45-7:45pm at The Wheeler Centre

Six brilliant poets read poems from their oeuvre, building to a crescendo of Blak verse. With Graham Akhurst, Jeanine Leane, Kirli Saunders, Laniyuk, Neika Lehman, Nadine Anne Hura, Yvette Holt.

WOVEN - 17 March, 11:15am-12:15pm at The Wheeler Centre

This session explores Woven, a poetry anthology that holds the voices of 30 First Nations peoples collaborating to write other worlds. With Anahera Gildea, essa may ranapiri, Evelyn Araluen, Raelee Lancaster and moderated by Bridget Caldwell-Bright.

A BIG LIFE - 17 March, 1:45-2:45pm at The Wheeler Centre

Two writers share their insightful memoirs in this intimate and special event. With Debra Dank, Amy Thunig and moderated by Lynette Russell.

We hope to see you there!